title: [Diagnostic nerve ultrasonography].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  For the diagnostics of nerve lesions an imaging method is necessary to visualize peripheral nerves and their surrounding structures for an etiological classification.
  
  
  METHODS
  Clinical neurological and electrophysiological investigations provide functional information about nerve lesions. The information provided by a standard magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination is inadequate for peripheral nerve diagnostics; however, MRI neurography is suitable but on the other hand a resource and time-consuming method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using ultrasonography for peripheral nerve diagnostics.
  
  
  METHODS
  With ultrasonography reliable diagnostics of entrapment neuropathies and traumatic nerve lesions are possible. The use of ultrasonography for neuropathies shows that a differentiation between different forms is possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nerve ultrasonography is an established diagnostic tool. In addition to the clinical examination and clinical electrophysiology, structural information can be obtained, which results in a clear improvement in the diagnostics. Ultrasonography has become an integral part of the diagnostic work-up of peripheral nerve lesions in neurophysiological departments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nerve ultrasonography is recommended for the diagnostic work-up of peripheral nerve lesions in addition to clinical and electrophysiological investigations. It should be used in the clinical work-up of entrapment neuropathies, traumatic nerve lesions and spacy-occupying lesions of nerves.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Neurogenetik, Universität zu Lübeck (CBBM; Haus 66), Marie-Curie-Straße, 23562, Lübeck, Deutschland. tobias.baeumer@neuro.uni-luebeck.de.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bäumer
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Neurologie, Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Tübingen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimm
authors.affiliation: Neurologische Klinik, Städtisches Klinikum Dessau, Dessau, Deutschland.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Schelle
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Electrophysiology; Imaging; Magnetic resonance imaging; Peripheral nerves; Ultrasonography