Biomaterial Database

Neuromuscular ultrasound in polyneuropathies and motor neuron disease. 2013

Lisa D Hobson-Webb

Duke University Medical Center, Department of Neurology, Durham, NC 27710, USA. lisa.hobsonwebb@duke.edu

Current standards for diagnosing polyneuropathies (PN) and motor neuron disease (MND) sometimes lack early sensitivity and result in delayed diagnosis and treatment. Neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS), already established in the diagnosis of entrapment neuropathies, may offer another means of diagnosis and monitoring response to therapy. This review of current evidence discusses diffuse nerve hypertrophy in hereditary demyelinating neuropathies, multifocal nerve enlargement in acquired demyelinating PN and the lack of readily apparent structural change in axonal neuropathies. NMUS detection of fasciculations and muscular change in MND is also reviewed, along with the need for further research to better define the role of nerve imaging in patients with PN.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D010525	Peripheral Nerves	The nerves outside of the brain and spinal cord, including the autonomic, cranial, and spinal nerves. Peripheral nerves contain non-neuronal cells and connective tissue as well as axons. The connective tissue layers include, from the outside to the inside, the epineurium, the perineurium, and the endoneurium.	Endoneurium,Epineurium,Perineurium,Endoneuriums,Epineuriums,Nerve, Peripheral,Nerves, Peripheral,Perineuriums,Peripheral Nerve
D011115	Polyneuropathies	Diseases of multiple peripheral nerves simultaneously. Polyneuropathies usually are characterized by symmetrical, bilateral distal motor and sensory impairment with a graded increase in severity distally. The pathological processes affecting peripheral nerves include degeneration of the axon, myelin or both. The various forms of polyneuropathy are categorized by the type of nerve affected (e.g., sensory, motor, or autonomic), by the distribution of nerve injury (e.g., distal vs. proximal), by nerve component primarily affected (e.g., demyelinating vs. axonal), by etiology, or by pattern of inheritance.	Polyneuropathy, Acquired,Polyneuropathy, Critical Illness,Polyneuropathy, Familial,Polyneuropathy, Inherited,Polyneuropathy, Motor,Acquired Polyneuropathies,Acquired Polyneuropathy,Critical Illness Polyneuropathies,Critical Illness Polyneuropathy,Familial Polyneuropathies,Familial Polyneuropathy,Inherited Polyneuropathies,Inherited Polyneuropathy,Motor Polyneuropathies,Motor Polyneuropathy,Polyneuropathies, Acquired,Polyneuropathies, Critical Illness,Polyneuropathies, Familial,Polyneuropathies, Inherited,Polyneuropathies, Motor,Polyneuropathy
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D014463	Ultrasonography	The visualization of deep structures of the body by recording the reflections or echoes of ultrasonic pulses directed into the tissues. Use of ultrasound for imaging or diagnostic purposes employs frequencies ranging from 1.6 to 10 megahertz.	Echography,Echotomography,Echotomography, Computer,Sonography, Medical,Tomography, Ultrasonic,Ultrasonic Diagnosis,Ultrasonic Imaging,Ultrasonographic Imaging,Computer Echotomography,Diagnosis, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasound,Ultrasonic Tomography,Ultrasound Imaging,Diagnoses, Ultrasonic,Diagnostic Ultrasounds,Imaging, Ultrasonic,Imaging, Ultrasonographic,Imaging, Ultrasound,Imagings, Ultrasonographic,Imagings, Ultrasound,Medical Sonography,Ultrasonic Diagnoses,Ultrasonographic Imagings,Ultrasound, Diagnostic,Ultrasounds, Diagnostic
D016472	Motor Neuron Disease	Diseases characterized by a selective degeneration of the motor neurons of the spinal cord, brainstem, or motor cortex. Clinical subtypes are distinguished by the major site of degeneration. In AMYOTROPHIC LATERAL SCLEROSIS there is involvement of upper, lower, and brainstem motor neurons. In progressive muscular atrophy and related syndromes (see MUSCULAR ATROPHY, SPINAL) the motor neurons in the spinal cord are primarily affected. With progressive bulbar palsy (BULBAR PALSY, PROGRESSIVE), the initial degeneration occurs in the brainstem. In primary lateral sclerosis, the cortical neurons are affected in isolation. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1089)	Anterior Horn Cell Disease,Familial Motor Neuron Disease,Lateral Sclerosis,Motor Neuron Disease, Lower,Motor Neuron Disease, Upper,Lower Motor Neuron Disease,Motor Neuron Disease, Familial,Motor Neuron Disease, Secondary,Motor System Disease,Primary Lateral Sclerosis,Secondary Motor Neuron Disease,Upper Motor Neuron Disease,Lateral Scleroses,Lateral Scleroses, Primary,Lateral Sclerosis, Primary,Motor Neuron Diseases,Motor System Diseases,Neuron Disease, Motor,Neuron Diseases, Motor,Primary Lateral Scleroses,Scleroses, Lateral,Scleroses, Primary Lateral,Sclerosis, Lateral,Sclerosis, Primary Lateral
D018482	Muscle, Skeletal	A subtype of striated muscle, attached by TENDONS to the SKELETON. Skeletal muscles are innervated and their movement can be consciously controlled. They are also called voluntary muscles.	Anterior Tibial Muscle,Gastrocnemius Muscle,Muscle, Voluntary,Plantaris Muscle,Skeletal Muscle,Soleus Muscle,Muscle, Anterior Tibial,Muscle, Gastrocnemius,Muscle, Plantaris,Muscle, Soleus,Muscles, Skeletal,Muscles, Voluntary,Skeletal Muscles,Tibial Muscle, Anterior,Voluntary Muscle,Voluntary Muscles