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Multimodal quantitative examination of nerve function in colorectal cancer patients prior to chemotherapy
Author(s) -
Kandula Tejaswi,
Farrar Michelle A.,
Krishnan Arun V.,
Murray Jenna,
Timmins Hannah C.,
Goldstein David,
Lin Cindy SY.,
Kiernan Matthew C.,
Park Susanna B.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.25968
Subject(s) - medicine , subclinical infection , oxaliplatin , colorectal cancer , polyneuropathy , chemotherapy , peripheral neuropathy , neurological examination , cancer , surgery , diabetes mellitus , endocrinology
Given recent findings of subclinical sensory deficits in colorectal cancer patients before oxaliplatin treatment, in the current study we aimed to identify evidence of subclinical peripheral neuropathy on multimodal testing before chemotherapy commencement. Methods: Clinical, functional, and neurophysiological assessments were undertaken in 93 colorectal cancer patients before chemotherapy. Results: There was no neurophysiological evidence of neuropathy, with 92 of 93 sural sensory values within normative reference values for age and no significant abnormalities detected in nerve conduction or nerve excitability studies. Clinical neurological assessment revealed 75.9% of patients with no signs or symptoms, 10.3% with reduction in distal vibration or pinprick sensitivity, and 6.9% with reduction in ankle reflexes only. There was no difference in manual dexterity (using the 9‐hole peg‐board test) compared with normative data. Discussion: The present study has established a low likelihood of significant distal symmetrical polyneuropathy in colorectal cancer patients before initiation of chemotherapy. Muscle Nerve 57 : 615–621, 2018