Optimal cut-off value of the Modified Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score in the diagnosis of polyneuropathy.

Abstract

The modified Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (mTCNS) is a valid and reliable scale for the diagnosis and staging of diabetic sensorimotor polyneuropathy (DSP). To determine the optimal diagnostic cut-off value of the mTCNS in diverse polyneuropathies. Demographics and mTCNS values were retrospectively extracted from an electronic database of 190 patients with polyneuropathy (PNP) and 20 normal controls. Sensitivity, specificity, and likelihood ratios and the area under the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve were determined for each diagnosis and different cut-off values of the mTCNS. Patients had clinical, electrophysiological, and functional assessments of their PNP. 43% of PNP was related to diabetes or impaired glucose tolerance. mTCNS was significantly higher in patients with PNP than in those without (15.27±8 vs 0.79±1.4, P = 0.001). The cut-off value for diagnosing PNP was ≥3 (sensitivity 98.4%, specificity 85.7%, positive likelihood ratio 6.88). The area under the ROC curve is 0.987. A value of 3 or more on the mTCNS is recommended for the diagnosis of PNP.