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Ultrasonography of Peripheral Nerves

  • Nerve and Muscle (M Hirano and LH Weimer, Section Editors)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Over the last decade, neuromuscular ultrasonography has emerged as a useful tool for the diagnosis of peripheral nerve disorders. This article reviews sonographic findings of normal nerves, including key quantitative ultrasound measurements that are helpful in the evaluation of focal and possibly generalized peripheral neuropathies. It also discusses several recent articles outlining the evidence base for the use of this technology, as well as new findings in compressive, traumatic, and generalized neuropathies. Ultrasonography is well suited for use in electrodiagnostic laboratories, where physicians, experienced in both the clinical evaluation of patients and the application of hands-on technology, can integrate findings from the patient’s history, physical examination, electrophysiological studies, and imaging for diagnosis and management.

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Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance

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Acknowledgment

M.S. Cartwright has a grant to study neuromuscular ultrasonography from the NIH/NINDS (1K23NS062892).

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No potential conflicts of interest relevant to this article were reported.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurology, School of Medicine, Catholic University of Daegu, 3056-6, Daemyeong-4-dong, Nam-gu, Daegu, South Korea

    Jung Im Suk

  2. Department of Neurology, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA

    Francis O. Walker & Michael S. Cartwright

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  1. Jung Im Suk
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  2. Francis O. Walker
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Correspondence to Francis O. Walker.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Nerve and Muscle

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Suk, J.I., Walker, F.O. & Cartwright, M.S. Ultrasonography of Peripheral Nerves. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep 13, 328 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11910-012-0328-x

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