Summary
Three cases are presented to demonstrate the diagnostic value of sensory neurography in combination with somatosensory evoked potentials in the diagnosis of proximally located neuropathy and its differentiation to centrally located demyelinating processes. Simultaneous recording of cortical and spinal evoked potentials, as well as peripheral nerve action potentials, revealed in two cases (herpes zoster, Guillain-Barré syndrome) a site of lesion at the spinal roots suggesting radiculitis and in one case (tick bite) a site of lesion central to the source of lumbar evoked potentials suggesting myelitis. In all cases almost complete recovery of sensory conduction velocities suggests a complete repair myelination not previously described.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Desmedt JE, Brunko E (1980) Functional organization of farfield and cortical components of somatosensory evoked potentials in normal adults. In: Desmedt JE (ed) Clinical uses of cerebral, brain-stem and spinal somatosensory evoked potentials. Progr Clin Neurophysiol, vol 7. Karger, Basel, pp 27–50
Desmedt JE, Chéron G (1981) Prevertebral (oesophageal) recording of subcortical somatosensory evoked potentials in man: the spinal P 13 component and the dual nature of the spinal generators. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 52:257–275
Eisen A, Humphreis P (1974) The Guillain-Barré syndrome. Arch Neurol 30:438–443
Jones SJ (1979) Investigations of brachial plexus traction lesions by peripheral and spinal somatosensory evoked potentials. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 42:107–116
Kimura J, Butzer JF (1975) F-wave conduction velocity in Guillain-Barré syndrome. Arch Neurol 32:524–529
King D, Ashby P (1976) Conduction velocity in the proximal segments of a motor nerve in the Guillain-Barré syndrome. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 39:538–544
Lachman T, Shahani BT, Young RA (1980) Late responses as aids to diagnosis in peripheral neuropathy. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatr 43:156–162
McLeod JG (1981) Electrophysiological studies in the Guillain-Barré syndrome. Ann Neurol 9 [Suppl]: 20–27
McLeod JG, Walsh JC, Prineas JW, Pollard JD (1976) Acute idiopathic polyneuritis: a clinical and electrophysiological follow-up study. J Neurol Sci 27:145–162
Riffel B, Stöhr M (1982) Spinale und subcorticale somatosensorisch evozierte Potentiale nach Stimulation des N. tibialis. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 232:251–263
Stöhr M, Riffel B, Buettner UW (1981) Somatosensible evozierte Potentiale in der Diagnostik von Armplexusläsionen. Z EEG-EMG 12:195–197
Stöhr M, Buettner UW, Riffel B, Koletzki E (1982a) Spinal somatosensory evoked potentials in cervical cord lesions. Electroencephalogr Clin Neurophysiol 54:257–265
Stöhr M, Dichgans J, Diener HC, Buettner UW (1982b) Evozierte Potentiale. SEP-VEP-AEP. Springer, Berlin
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stöhr, M., Buettner, U.W., Wiethölter, H. et al. Combined recordings of compound nerve action potentials and spinal cord evoked potentials in differential diagnosis of spinal root lesions. Arch Psychiatr Nervenkr 233, 103–110 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343431
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00343431