Ο ρόλος του νευρομυϊκού υπερήχου στη διαγνωστική των αυτοάνοσων νευροπαθειών

The role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the diagnostic of the immune-mediated neuropathies

Abstract

Ιn typical cases, the differential diagnosis of the immune-mediated neuropathies is based on the evaluation
of the patient’s history, the time course and distribution pattern of the neurological semiology and the
findings of the paraclinical diagnostic (nerve conduction studies and blood testing). In cases though with
atypical clinical presentation, an extended diagnostic workup, including cerebrospinal fluid examination
and nerve biopsy, may be needed.
The role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the diagnostic workup of polyneuropathies remains in the literature less well defined. The need for a holistic approach to peripheral nerve disease (functional and
structural) led to the development of new imaging techniques, among which neuromuscular ultrasound
has a major role. While the amount of ultrasound studies on immune-mediated neuropathies continously
grows, the correlation of ultrasound with clinical and neurphysiological findings increased the interest of
neurologists for this method.
Aim of this review is to provide a timely update on the ultrasound findings of the most common immune-mediated neuropathies and to propose a possible diagnostic algorithm of the ultrasound examination.