Clinical utility of peripheral nerve biopsy

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Abstract from Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2005 Feb;5(1):41-7.

Clinical utility of peripheral nerve biopsy.

Lacomis D.

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, UPMC Presbyterian, 200 Lothrop Street,

F878, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.

Histopathologic evaluation of nerve biopsy specimens provides important

diagnostic information in some patients with peripheral neuropathy. The role of

nerve biopsy is more restricted than that of muscle biopsy. Nerve biopsy is

utilized mainly for diagnosis of vasculitis and infiltrative neuropathies. It is

also utilized in diagnosis of atypical inflammatory demyelinating neuropathies

in which the clinical, electrodiagnostic, and laboratory features are

inconclusive. In addition, the study of nerve histopathology can also enhance

our understanding of disease pathogenesis.