Cross‐sectional area reference values for sonography of nerves in the upper extremities

Abstract

Introduction Detailed morphological features of the peripheral nerves could improve the diagnostic sensitivity in some polyneuropathies. In this study we aimed to establish multiple‐site, cross‐sectional area (CSA) reference values for peripheral nerves of upper extremities in a healthy Chinese population. Methods One hundred eleven healthy subjects, 15 to 70 years of age, were prospectively recruited. CSA at predetermined sites of the median, ulnar, radial nerves, and brachial plexus was measured bilaterally. Ten consecutive sites were studied along the median/ulnar nerves. Results The CSA at ten sites of the median nerve ranged from 5.59 ± 0.89 to 8.43 ± 1.30 mm2, and for the ulnar nerve from 2.94 ± 0.57 to 5.63 ± 1.08 mm2. Both age and gender correlated with nerve CSA at most sites. Discussion CSA was not uniform along the length of the median and ulnar nerves. The multiple‐site reference values could be helpful for investigating polyneuropathies in the Asian population.

Vagus Nerve Ultrasound in Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyradiculoneuropathy and Charcot‐Marie‐Tooth Disease Type 1A

“…Our CSA reference values are closer to those of Korea and Japan, and smaller than those of the United States. Similar differences among races were also seen in other peripheral nerves, according to our previous work 13 …”

“…Similar differences among races were also seen in other peripheral nerves, according to our previous work. 13 According to the previous studies, when compared with HC, the CSA of vagus nerve was larger in CMT1B and CIDP patients. 3,4 We confirmed that the mean CSA of the vagus nerve was larger in CMT1A and CIDP patients compared with HC.…”

“…There was no difference in vagus nerve CSA between the left and right side in HC, CIDP, and CMT1A patients ( P = .250, .498, and .736, respectively). The detailed data about CSAs of the median and ulnar nerves had been published and were not listed here 13 . ROC analysis showed that the vagus nerve CSA had high diagnostic accuracy for the diagnosis of CIDP and CMT1A (Fig 3).…”

“…The CSA at the level of thyroid was measured by tracing just inside the hyperechoic rim of the nerve. The median and ulnar nerves were measured at 10 sites as previously described 13 . The maximum CSA of median/ulnar nerve was defined as the maximum CSA over 10 sites, and the mean CSA was the mean of the 10 sites.…”

“…The median and ulnar nerves were measured at 10 sites as previously described. 13 The maximum CSA of median/ulnar nerve was defined as the maximum CSA over 10 sites, and the mean CSA was the mean of the 10 sites. Enlargement was defined as being larger than the upper range of HCs.…”