Shear-wave elastography: a new potential method to diagnose ulnar neuropathy at the elbow

• DOI: 10.1007/s00330-018-5517-9
• Publication Date: 2018-06-01T14:40:52Z
• Authors: Łukasz Paluch; Bartłomiej Noszczyk; Żaneta Nitek; Jerzy Walecki; Katarzyna Osiak; Piotr Pietruski
• Keywords: Ulnar Neuropathy; Neuroradiology; Interventional radiology; Entrapment Neuropathy

The primary aim of this study was to verify if shear-wave elastography (SWE) can be used diagnose ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE). secondary objective compare cross-sectional areas (CSA) nerve in cubital tunnel and determine a cut-off value for parameter accurately identifying persons with UNE. included 34 patients UNE (mean age, 59.35 years) 38 healthy controls 57.42 years). Each participant subjected SWE three levels: (CT) distal arm (DA) mid-arm (MA). CSA estimated by means ultrasonographic imaging. Patients presented significantly greater stiffness than (mean, 96.38 kPa vs. 33.08 kPa, p < 0.001). Ulnar 61 CT DA ratio equal 1.68, MA 1.75 provided 100% specificity, sensitivity, positive negative predictive detection Mean turned out larger (p A weak correlation found group between (R = 0.31, 0.008). seems promising, reliable simple quantitative adjunct test support diagnosis • enables syndrome Significant increase entrapped is observed perspective screening tool early compressive neuropathies