Ultra-high-frequency ultrasound imaging of sural nerve: A comparative study with nerve biopsy in progressive neuropathies.
INTRODUCTION
Nerve ultrasound has been used increasingly in clinical practice as a complementary test for diagnostic assessment of neuropathies, but nerve biopsy remains invaluable in certain cases. The aim of this study was to compare ultra-high-frequency ultrasound (UHF-US) to histologic findings in progressive polyneuropathies.


METHODS
Ten patients with severe, progressive neuropathies underwent ultrasound evaluation of the sural nerve before nerve biopsy. Ultrasound data were compared with histologic results in a retrospective manner.


RESULTS
Sural nerves were easily identified on UHF-US. Nerve hyperechogenicity correlated with inflammatory infiltrates on biopsy. Nerve fascicles could be identified and measured on ultrasound in the majority of patients.


DISCUSSION
Hyperechogenicity on UHF-US may be a marker of nerve inflammation in neuropathies. Furthermore, the UHF-US probe allows for evaluation of sensory nerves in spite of their small size, providing valuable information on their size and on their internal structure.
['Puma|Angela|A|0000-0002-4218-6128', 'Grecu|Nicolae|N|0000-0003-4493-1133', 'Villa|Luisa|L|', 'Butori|Catherine|C|', 'Besson|Thomas|T|', 'Cambieri|Chiara|C|', 'Cavalli|Michele|M|', 'Azulay|Nicolas|N|', 'Sacconi|Sabrina|S|', 'Raffaelli|Charles|C|']
D000328:Adult D000368:Aged D001706:Biopsy D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures D012189:Retrospective Studies D013497:Sural Nerve D014463:Ultrasonography
CSA, echogenicity, nerve biopsy, neuropathy, ultra-high-frequency ultrasound