Open AccessReview Article “Spotlight on Ultrasonography in the Diagnosis of Peripheral Nerve Disease: The Evidence to Date”
Author(s) -
Andrew Hannaford,
Steve Vucic,
Matthew C. Kiernan,
Neil Simon
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of general medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.722
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 1178-7074
DOI - 10.2147/ijgm.s295851
Subject(s) - medicine , mononeuropathy , pathological , peripheral nerve , ultrasonography , peripheral , disease , peripheral neuropathy , ultrasound , physical medicine and rehabilitation , radiology , pathology , anatomy , endocrinology , diabetes mellitus
Neuromuscular ultrasound is rapidly becoming incorporated into clinical practice as a standard tool in the assessment of peripheral nerve diseases. Ultrasound complements clinical phenotyping and electrodiagnostic evaluation, providing critical structural anatomical information to enhance diagnosis and identify structural pathology. This review article examines the evidence supporting neuromuscular ultrasound in the diagnosis of compressive mononeuropathies, traumatic nerve injury, generalised peripheral neuropathy and motor neuron disease. Extending the sonographic evaluation of nerves beyond simple morphological measurements has the potential to improve diagnostics in peripheral neuropathy, as well as advancing the understanding of pathological mechanisms, which in turn will promote precise therapies and improve therapeutic outcomes.