title: Ultrasound elastography assessment of the median nerve in leprosy patients.
abstract: We sought to compare median nerve elasticity between leprosy patients (LPs) and healthy volunteers (HVs) using ultrasound elastography (UE).
  
  
  
  Two radiologists independently measured the strain ratio of the median nerve/flexor digitorum superficialis muscle (MN/FDSM) of 18 LP and 18 HV using real-time freehand UE. Statistical analysis included intra-class correlation coefficients (ICC) and Mann-Whitney test.
  
  
  
  The MN/FDSM strain ratios of the LP and HV were 2.66 ± 1.30 and 3.52 ± 0.93, respectively (P <  0.05). We observed a significantly lower MN/FDSM strain ratio in LP with reactions (types 1 and 2 cutaneous reactions associated with or without neuritis) (2.30 ± 0.91) compared with LP without reactions (3.60 ± 1.70). We found no significant differences between HV and LP without reactions. The intra- and inter-observer ICCs were 0.50 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.11-0.72) and 0.34 (95% CI, 0.28-0.52), respectively.
  
  
  
  MN/FDSM strain ratios were significantly lower in LP with reactions. UE may be useful for nerve elasticity evaluation in leprosy. Muscle Nerve 56: 393-398, 2017.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Division, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcello H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nogueira-Barbosa
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Division, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Helena B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Lugão
authors.affiliation: Radiology Division, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Everaldo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gregio-Júnior
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Saint-Antoine Hospital, University Paris VI, France.
authors.forename: Michel D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Crema
authors.affiliation: Radiology Division, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariana T T
authors.initials: MTT
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Division, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marco A C
authors.initials: MAC
authors.lastname: Frade
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Theo Z
authors.initials: TZ
authors.lastname: Pavan
authors.affiliation: Physics Department, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antonio A O
authors.initials: AAO
authors.lastname: Carneiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000294:innervation / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007918:Leprosy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: elastography; leprosy; median nerve; peripheral neuropathy; ultrasonography