To study the relevance of HFU for timely diagnosis of DPN.
High-frequency ultrasound (HFU) can be helpful
in timely diagnosing diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), thereby enhancing
clinical outcomes.
To study the relevance
of HFU for timely diagnosis of DPN.
Overall, 60 diabetic patients were segregated into two groups: Group A or diabetic patients without peripheral neuropathy (30 patients); Group B or DPN groups (30 patients). Also, Group C or the healthy control group had 30 nondiabetic patients. The average age of these patients was 56.09 ± 12.66 years.
The
cross-sectional area of the right upper limb median nerve (MN) at various
locations - MN1, MN2, MN3, MN4, MN5, MN6, and MN7 was evaluated. The ultrasound
imaging features of the MN like internal echo, core structure, boundary,
epineurium, and blood flow were recorded.
The cross-sectional area, width, and thickness of the MN were increased in group A than group C (with considerable changes at MN1, MN4, and MN7) and in group B than group C (with considerable changes at all 7 sites). At the MN7, the cross-sectional area had the maximum diagnostic precision for DPN in group B.
MN had lost the core sieve mesh structure and displayed decreased echo, an
incomplete blood flow signal, and dense epineurium in patients in the DPN group
as per the ultrasound analysis. DPN groups had a significant correlation
observed between cross-sectional area and motor and F wave mean latency.
Timely diagnosis of DPN is crucial to confirm
a good clinical outcome. The cross-sectional area of the
median nerve displayed positive and negative correlations with
electroneurophysiologic factors in DPN patients, implying that HFU can to a
certain magnitude expose changes in the motor and sensory nerve conduction and
F wave of nerves.
BioMed Research International
Applicability of High-Frequency Ultrasound to the Early Diagnosis of Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy
Xishun Ma et al.
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