Clinical value of ultrasonography in detection of median nerve in diabetic patients

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical value of ultrasonography in the detection of median nerve in diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).Methods Median nerve was detected in 70 healthy adults (control group) and 43 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (diabetes mellitus group) by color Doppler ultrasonography.The type 2 diabetes mellitus patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of the disease:＜ 10 years group (26 cases) and ≥ 10 years group( 17 cases).And they were divided into two groups according to the random plasma glucose (RPG):RPG ＜ 15 mmol/L group (28 cases) and RPG≥ 15mmol/L group ( 15 cases).The nerve cross section area (CSA) was taken at the level of the pisiform.Results The median nerve in diabetes mellitus group had decreased echogenicity and increased color in it.The CSA of the median nerve in diabetes mellitus group was significantly higher than that in control group [ ( 10.3 ± 2.1 )mm2 vs. (8.3:± 1.7) mm2 ] (P ＜ 0.01 ).The C SA of the median nerve in ≥ 10 years group was significantly higher than that in ＜10 years group [ ( 12.3 ± 2.0) mm2 vs.( 10.2 ± 2.6) mm2] (P ＜ 0.01 ).The CSA of the median nerve in RPG ≥ 15 mmol/L group was significantly higher than that in RPG ＜ 15 mmol/L group [ ( 11.7 ± 1.8) mm2 vs.(9.6 ± 2.7 ) mm2 ] (P ＜ 0.01 ).Conclusion Color Doppler ultrasonography examination may reveal morphology of median nerve and is useful for the diagnosis of DPN. Key words: Diabetes mellitus; Median nerve; Diabetic neuropathies