High-Resolution Ultrasound in Evaluation of Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients of Hansen's Disease

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Neurology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Hansen's disease (HD) causes peripheral neuropathy and deformities, necessitating early diagnosis.
• Prompt treatment is crucial for preserving nerve function in HD patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) in diagnosing Hansen's disease.
• To assess HRUS for detecting nerve structural changes in HD patients.

Main Methods:

• A study included 40 patients with clinically diagnosed HD and 19 controls.
• High-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) was used to assess bilateral ulnar nerves (UNs) and other clinically thickened peripheral nerves.
• Nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) was measured and compared between groups.

Main Results:

• Patients with HD showed significantly thickened UNs compared to controls.
• HRUS detected bilateral nerve enlargement in two pure neuritic HD cases where clinical examination was inconclusive.
• No significant difference in UN CSA was observed between multi-drug therapy (MDT)-treated and treatment-naive patients.

Conclusions:

• HRUS is a sensitive, non-invasive tool for diagnosing HD, particularly the pure neuritic type.
• HRUS provides valuable information on nerve morphology and can detect early nerve damage, preventing disabilities.
• HRUS complements clinical examination in diagnosing and managing Hansen's disease.