Sonographic Multifocal Cranial Nerve Enlargement in Multifocal Acquired Demyelinating Sensory and Motor Neuropathy

Intern Med. 2021 Sep 1;60(17):2867-2871. doi: 10.2169/internalmedicine.6782-20. Epub 2021 Mar 22.

Abstract

Multifocal enlargements with the alteration of a normal fascicular pattern are considered to be sonographic peripheral nerve features in multifocal acquired demyelinating sensory and motor neuropathy (MADSAM), a subtype of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP). We herein present the case of an 18-year-old patient with MADSAM in whom intensive sonological assessments revealed multifocal nerve enlargement within clinically affected cranial nerves. Our case demonstrated that, if systematically investigated with ultrasound, morphological changes similar to those in the peripheral nerves may be detected in a large proportion of clinically affected cranial nerves in MADSAM, boosting the future applications of cranial nerve ultrasound in CIDP.

Keywords: CIDP; MADSAM; chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy; diagnostic imaging; ultrasonography; ultrasound.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Cranial Nerves
  • Humans
  • Neural Conduction*
  • Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating* / diagnostic imaging
  • Skull
  • Ultrasonography