Electrical impedance myography in the diagnosis of radiculopathy |
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Authors: | Andrew J Spieker BS Pushpa Narayanaswami MD Laura Fleming John C Keel MD Stefan C Muzin MD Seward B Rutkove MD |
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Institution: | 1. Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconness Medical Center, , Boston, Massachusetts, 02215 USA;2. Department of Orthopedics, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, , Boston, Massachusetts, USA |
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Abstract: | Introduction: We sought to determine whether electrical impedance myography (EIM) could serve as a diagnostic procedure for evaluation of radiculopathy. Methods: Twenty‐seven patients with clinically and radiologically diagnosed cervical or lumbosacral radiculopathy who met a “gold standard” definition underwent EIM and standard needle electromyography (EMG) of multiple upper or lower extremity muscles. Results: EIM reactance values revealed consistent reductions in the radiculopathy‐affected myotomal muscles as compared with those on the unaffected side; the degree of asymmetry was associated strongly with the degree of EMG abnormality (P < 0.001). EIM had a sensitivity of 64.5% and a specificity of 77.0%; in comparison, EMG had a sensitivity of 79.7% but a specificity of 69.7%. Conclusions: These findings support the potential for EIM to serve as a new non‐invasive tool to assist in diagnosis of radiculopathy; however, further refinement of the technique is needed for this specific application. Muscle Nerve 48:800–805, 2013 |
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Keywords: | cervical radiculopathy electrical impedance electromyography lumbosacral radiculopathy muscle reactance |
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