Ultrasound of cranial nerves is a novel subdomain of neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) which may provide additional value in the assessment of cranial nerves in different neuromuscular disorders. Whilst NMUS of peripheral nerves has been studied, NMUS of cranial nerves is considered in its initial stage of research, thus, there is a need to summarize the research results achieved to date. Detailed scanning protocols, which assist in mastery of the techniques, are briefly mentioned in the few reference textbooks available in the field. This review article focuses on ultrasound scanning techniques of the 4 accessible cranial nerves: optic, facial, vagus and spinal accessory nerves. The relevant literatures and potential future applications are discussed.
Accessory Nerve ; Cranial Nerves* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Ultrasonography*

No abstract available.
Anesthesia, Conduction* ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Ultrasonography*

Neurilemmoma is well-encapsulated tumor of Schwann cell origin. The majority arise in peripheral nerve or cranial nerve, and rare in retroperitoneum. Although it is incidentally detected by the advances in diagnostic procedures, especially in ultrasound and computed tomography, it is confirmed by pathologic findings. The treatment is surgical excision. We report a case of retroperitoneal neurilemmoma arising from adjacent to adrenal gland, in 45 years old female.
Adrenal Glands* ; Cranial Nerves ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neurilemmoma* ; Peripheral Nerves ; Ultrasonography

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis is a rare autosomal recessive disease that involves multiple organs, including the peripheral nervous system. The present study is the first to report the ultrasonographic findings of peripheral nerves in a patient with cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis. The patient presented with bilateral Achilles tendon enlargement and foot hypesthesia. Sonographic examination revealed hypoechoic, swollen peripheral nerves with enlarged bilateral Achilles tendons. Since the ultrasonographic findings revealed peripheral involvement, the diagnosis of cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis was established after laboratory and genetic studies along with clinical findings.
Achilles Tendon ; Diagnosis ; Foot ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System ; Polyneuropathies* ; Ultrasonography* ; Xanthomatosis, Cerebrotendinous*

High-resolution ultrasound (US) of the peripheral nerves is now a standard mode of assessing neuromuscular disorders at some centers. Current standards for diagnosing peripheral neuropathies occasionally lack early sensitivity and can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment. In conjunction with electrodiagnostic studies, nerve US is particularly effective in the diagnosis of entrapment neuropathies, and may offer an alternative means of diagnosing polyneuropathies and monitoring the patient's response to therapy. This article briefly reviews the existing literature regarding ultrasonography in peripheral neuropathy and discusses its implications for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Polyneuropathies ; Prognosis ; Ultrasonography

In the evaluation of peripheral nerve injury, nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography mainly focus on anatomical localization and functional evaluation of lesions. Whereas neuromuscular ultrasound has an advantage in structural assessment of lesions. In addition, muscle ultrasound can also be used to demonstrate muscle denervation without causing pain. We report a case of traumatic ulnar nerve injury at hand in which muscle ultrasound contributed to precise localization by provided detailed information about the extent of muscle denervation.
Electromyography ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscle Denervation ; Needles ; Neural Conduction ; Neuroanatomy ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Peripheral Nerves ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Neuropathies ; Ultrasonography

Primary vascular leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor arising from the smooth muscle cells of the media on the vessel wall. We describe here the ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance (MR) findings, as well as pathologic correlation, of a leiomyosarcoma of the femoral vein in a 42-year-old woman. US revealed a spindle-shaped mass with a connection to the thrombosed femoral vein. We initially misdiagnosed this mass as a peripheral nerve sheath tumor due to the misinterpretation of the thrombosed vein as a nerve bundle.
Adult ; Female ; Femoral Vein* ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Ultrasonography ; Veins

The glomus tumor of the peripheral nerve is one of the mesenchymal tumors originating in the epineurium, and is extremely rare. A 56-year-old man presented complaining of lancinating pain on the left thigh, which was provoked by pressure or exercise. Subsequent image study revealed a mass in the femoral nerve. Total surgical excision with the aid of intraoperative ultrasonography was performed and the pain was successfully controlled. The authors report an unusual case of a patient diagnosed with glomus tumor in peripheral nerve, with a review of the clinical features, imaging, and pathological findings.
Femoral Nerve* ; Glomus Tumor* ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Peripheral Nerves ; Thigh ; Ultrasonography

Brachial plexus block (BPB) under ultrasound guidance has come to be widely used. However, nerve injury has been reported following ultrasound-guided BPB. We hypothesized that BPB under ultrasound guidance in conjunction with real-time electrical nerve stimulation would help us prevent nerve injury and do more successful procedure. Here, we report the successful induction and maintenance of ultrasound-guided BPB and the achievement of good peri- and postoperative pain control using a conductive catheter, the EpiStim(R).
Brachial Plexus* ; Catheters* ; Pain Management ; Pain, Postoperative ; Peripheral Nerves ; Radial Nerve ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: Electromagnetic guidance reveals needle alignment and position relative to the image plane on an ultrasound view. This study compared the early learning curves of novices performing ultrasound-guided needle placement with (n = 10) or without electromagnetic guidance (n = 10). METHODS: Participants performed 30 ultrasound-guided needle placements using an echogenic stick (0.3-cm diameter) as a target inside a phantom model; this early learning period was divided into sequential periods (P1: 1-5, P2: 6-10, P3: 11-15, P4: 16-20, P5: 21-25, P6: 26-30 attempts). RESULTS: Using an in-plane approach, the time required for needle placement in the EMG group was significantly shorter than that of the non-EMG group in P1, P2, P4, and P6 and the number of needle advances of the EMG group was significantly smaller than that of the non-EMG group in P1 and P2. Using an out-of-plane approaches, the time required for needle placement in the EMG group was significantly shorter than that of the non-EMG group in all periods, but the number of needle advances was similar between both groups in P1-P5. CONCLUSIONS: The electromagnetic guidance system may be beneficial when performing ultrasound guided peripheral nerve blocks or vascular cannulation in the early learning period, especially by inexperienced operators with reducing patient risk.
Catheterization ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Humans ; Learning Curve* ; Learning* ; Magnets* ; Needles ; Peripheral Nerves ; Ultrasonography*