Peripheral sensory neuropathies are rare. Their clinical and electrophysiological pictures vary mainly with the course of the disorder (acute, subacute or chronic), with the size of the nerve fibres (large or small diameter) and the nervous structure involved (sensory axon or dorsal root ganglion). We discuss the characteristics and aetiologies of the various sensory neuropathies. Clinical case reports underline the practical aspects of these disorders.