Nerve Ultrasound

Ultrasound of peripheral nerve and muscle may be performed in conjunction with electrodiagnostic testing to provide added structural information about nerve and muscle. There are several areas of added value in addition to it being a painless study. Ultrasound can provide localizing information in mononeuropathies or provide greater insight into the nature of an abnormality causing a known focal neuropathy like carpal tunnel syndrome, ulnar neuropathy at the wrist or elbow or peroneal neuropathy. 

Sometimes, nerve ultrasound can be used to better understand generalized neuropathies, particularly if an autoimmune or genetic cause is suspected. Ultrasound can be used in isolation or in combination to complement other kinds of imaging, depending on the clinical scenario.

How to Prepare

To prepare for your ultrasound, you can wear comfortable clothes, or you choose to change into a gown. If the arm or leg is being examined, we suggest a tank top or shorts respectively.

What to Expect

The sonographer will apply gel to the area being imaged and glide the ultrasound probe along the surface of the skin to generate the ultrasound images.