Skin biopsy in assessing meralgia paresthetica
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Three-dimensional Imaging of Nociceptive Intraepidermal Nerve Fibers in Human Skin Biopsies
Published on: April 29, 2013
Arada Wongmek1, Susan Shin1, Lan Zhou1
1Department of Neurology, Icahn Medical School of Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, Box 1052, New York, New York, 10029, USA.
Introduction:
Meralgia paresthetica is a focal neuropathy caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). The disease can be difficult to assess by neurophysiological or imaging studies.
Methods:
We studied 5 patients who presented to our neuromuscular clinic from April 2012 to December 2014 with a clinical suspicion of meralgia paresthetica and had skin biopsies with intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) evaluation.
Results:
The mean age at onset was 37.2 (range 21-59) years. There were 4 women and 1 man. Two were obese, 2 wore tight jeans, and 1 had mild diabetes mellitus. IENFD was reduced in the symptomatic proximal thigh in all 5 patients and was also reduced in the asymptomatic thigh in 2 patients. It was normal in the distal leg in 4 patients.
Conclusion:
Meralgia paresthetica is associated with loss of small intraepidermal nerve fibers. Skin biopsy with IENFD evaluation may be a useful diagnostic tool for this disease.
More Related Videos
05:18Collection of Skeletal Muscle Biopsies from the Superior Compartment of Human Musculus Tibialis Anterior for Mechanical Evaluation
Published on: September 27, 2020
08:33Targeting Alpha Synuclein Aggregates in Cutaneous Peripheral Nerve Fibers by Free-floating Immunofluorescence Assay
Published on: June 25, 2019