Reference Values For Cross-sectional Area Research Articles

Nerve ultrasound normal values in children and young adults.

The objective of the study was to determine the reference values for cross-sectional area (CSA) of the nerves in healthy subjects between the age of 2 and 30 years. High-resolution ultrasonography (HRU) of the median, ulnar, tibial, sural, peroneal and spinal nerves C5-C7 was performed in 72 healthy subjects. The CSA of peripheral nerves demonstrated an age-dependent increase in size at all measurement sites in children up to around 14 years of age. This was most pronounced for large lower limb nerves and least for small nerves. Intra-nerve and inter-nerve variability of nerve CSA did not change with age. This study provides normative values for HRU of peripheral nerves in children and young adults. Adult reference values should not be used for children under the age of 14 years.

Estimation of ultrasound reference values for the lower limb peripheral nerves in adults: A cross-sectional study.

The objective of this study is to estimate the reference values for the lower limb peripheral nerves in adults.The demographics and physical characteristics of 69 adult healthy volunteers were evaluated and recorded. The estimated reference values and their correlations with the age, weight, height, body mass index (BMI) were evaluated.The cross sectional area reference values were obtained at 5 predetermined sites for 3 important lower limb peripheral nerves. Our CSA values correlated significantly with age, weight, and BMI. The normal reference values for each nerve were as follows: Tibial nerve at the popliteal fossa 19 mm2 ± 6.9, tibial nerve at the level of the medial malleolus 12.7 mm2 ± 4.5, common peroneal nerve at the popliteal fossa 9.5 mm2 ± 4, common peroneal nerve fibular head 8.9 mm2 ± 3.2, sural nerve 3.5 mm2 ± 1.4.The reference values for the lower limb peripheral nerves were identified. These values could be used for future management of peripheral nerve disorders.

Cross-sectional area reference values for normal peroneal nerve by high-resolution ultrasonography

Objective To obtain the comprehensive information of the normal peroneal nerve by high resolution ultrasonography.Methods The cross-sectional area was measured by observing the traveling law of peroneal nerve as well as its ultrasonographic features,choosing the polyline level of popliteal and the peroneal nerve around the fibular neck as measurement point.Results There was no significance on statistics in differences of the above-mentioned cross-sectional area.The overall mean of its peroneal nerve were (0.139 ± 0.043)cm2 and (0.114 ± 0.032)cm2 resectively; and its peroneal nerve among men seems a little bit wider than that among women,the old wider than the youth.It was positively correlated with height and weight(r =0.569,0.625,respectively,both P ＜0.05).Conclusions The high-resolution ultrasound can show the form and shape of the peroneal nerve,thus providing diagnostic criteria in quantity by measuring its normal cross-sectional area. Key words: Ultrasonography; Peroneal nerve; Cross-sectional area

Cross sectional area reference values for sonography of peripheral nerves and brachial plexus

ObjectiveUltrasound measurements of the cross sectional area (CSA) variability have been recently introduced to quantify pathological changes in peripheral nerves (PN). MethodsReference values from 75 healthy subjects and their correlation to age, height, weight and sex are reported. ResultsThe mean values in PN were: (1) intranerve CSA-variability: median 1.05 (SD±0.13), ulnar 1.53 (SD±0.51), fibular 1.33 (SD±0.37), tibial 1.39 (SD±0.39), (2) internerve CSA-variability 1.76 (SD±0.37), (3) intraplexus CSA-variability 1.52 (SD±0.37), (4) side-to-side difference ratio of the CSA-variability: median 1.21 (SD±0.04), ulnar 1.2 (SD±0.25), fibular 1.19 (SD±0.23), tibial 1.28 (SD±0.24) and brachial plexus 1.19 (SD±0.23). CSA did not correlate with height in PN, but correlated with weight in the ulnar nerve [Guyon’s canal, r=0.411, p=0.0237, elbow r=0.409, p=0.0248]. Significant changes between sex were found only in the ulnar (Guyon’s canal, p=0.0265), fibular (popliteal fossa, p=0.0336) and sural nerve (p=0.048). CSA decreased with age in the median (axilla, p=0.0236), and radial nerve (spiral groove, p=0.0037) and increased in the tibial nerve (ankle, p<0.0001). ConclusionsThe CSA reference values reported seem to correlate at certain sites with age, weight and sex but not with height. SignificanceThe new CSA variability measures may be helpful in investigating pathologies of the PN.

Ulnar nerve reference values for cross-sectional area, intranerve cross sectional area variability and side to side difference ratio

Ulnar nerve reference values for cross-sectional area, intranerve cross sectional area variability and side to side difference ratio

Measurement of cross‐sectional area of cervical roots and brachial plexus trunks

The aim of this study was to determine normal reference values for cross-sectional area (CSA) and the correlation between demographic factors and CSA in the cervical roots and brachial plexus trunks using ultrasonography. Ninety-five age-matched healthy individuals were studied. Ultrasonographic tests were performed via nerve tracing from the cervical root to the brachial plexus trunk. The CSA of each nerve was measured in the C5-8 ventral roots and brachial plexus (trunk level). Normal values of each cervical root were: C5, 5.66 ± 1.02 mm(2); C6, 8.98 ± 1.65 mm(2); C7, 10.43 ± 1.86 mm(2); and C8, 10.76 ± 2.02 mm(2). Values for the brachial plexus were: upper trunk, 16.70 ± 2.88 mm(2); middle trunk, 14.01 ± 2.70 mm(2); and lower trunk, 13.75 ± 2.57 mm(2). The side-to-side discrepancy was 11.91 ± 11.11%. Body mass index (BMI) and height correlated frequently with nerve CSA. These reference values may be helpful in investigating pathologies involving the cervical area.

Ultrasonographic Reference Values for Assessing the Normal Median Nerve in Adults

Several studies have evaluated the cross-sectional area of the median nerve at the wrist, but none have examined other sites along the median nerve. Nerve enlargement has been demonstrated in entrapment, hereditary and acquired neuropathies, as well as with intraneural masses, and cross-sectional area reference values at sites along the nerve will help in the evaluation of these conditions. In addition, muscle intrusion into the carpal tunnel has been implicated in carpal tunnel syndrome, but the normal amount of muscle intrusion has not been quantified. Fifty asymptomatic volunteers (100 arms) were evaluated to determine the mean cross-sectional area of the median nerve at 6 sites and the mean amount of muscle intruding into the carpal tunnel. The cross-sectional area of the nerve was consistent along its course (7.5 to 9.8 mm(2)). The amount of muscle within the carpal tunnel varied greatly, with the mean area of flexor digitorum being 15.5 mm(2) and lumbricals 13.5 mm(2). These reference values are necessary for advancing the field of neuromuscular ultrasound, because they facilitate studies of the median nerve in conditions such as entrapment, hereditary neuropathy, acquired neuropathy, and intraneural masses.