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Reference Values for Ultrasound Cross-Sectional Area and Elastography of Peripheral Nerves in Healthy Children From
Siwei Wang1,2, Tingting Geng2, Xiaoman Wang2
1Department of Ultrasound, Beijing Tiantan Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Ultrasound measurements of nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) in children increase with age, height, and weight. Median nerve elastography (shear wave velocity) showed no significant variation in healthy pediatric subjects.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neurology
- Medical Imaging
- Ultrasound Diagnostics
Background:
- Nerve ultrasound is crucial for diagnosing pediatric peripheral nerve disorders.
- Establishing normative ultrasound values in children is essential for accurate diagnosis and monitoring.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine reference values for ultrasound cross-sectional area (CSA) and elastography of peripheral nerves in healthy children.
- To investigate the relationship between nerve ultrasound parameters and anthropometric factors in pediatric populations.
Main Methods:
- 150 healthy children aged 2-16 years underwent ultrasound.
- Cross-sectional area (CSA) of multiple peripheral nerves and shear wave velocity (SWV) of the median nerve were measured.
- Data were analyzed using t-tests and ANOVA, stratified by age, sex, height, and weight.
Main Results:
- Nerve CSA significantly increased with age, height, and weight in children, particularly in lower limb nerves.
- No significant sex-based differences in nerve CSA were observed.
- Median nerve SWV was consistent across different age groups, sexes, and anthropometric parameters.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric nerve CSA measured by ultrasound is influenced by growth parameters (age, height, weight).
- Median nerve elastography (SWV) provides a stable reference value in healthy children, independent of these growth factors.
Introduction/Aims:
Nerve ultrasound is becoming increasingly important for diagnosing and monitoring peripheral nerve disorders in children. This research seeks to determine reference values for ultrasound cross-sectional area (CSA) and elastography of peripheral nerves in healthy children from northern China.
Methods:
A total of 150 healthy children aged 2-16 years were recruited. To make the results more intuitive and applicable, the CSA data were divided into five age groups and the elastography data into two. The CSA measurements included nerves of the cervical region (C5, C6, vagus), upper limb (median, ulnar, radial), and lower limb (sciatic, tibial, common peroneal, sural). Shear wave velocity (SWV) measurements were performed solely on the median nerve in the right forearm. t Tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were used to compare the data.
Results:
The average CSA of all nerves increased with age, particularly in the sciatic, tibial, and common peroneal nerves. No sex-based differences were observed in nerve CSA, which increased with weight and height. Among groups categorized by weight and height, significant differences were noted in the larger nerves, with the exception of the vagus and sural nerves. The mean median nerve SWV in this cohort was 3.48 ± 0.62 m/s, with no significant variations attributable to sex, age, height, weight, or CSA.
Discussion:
In children, nerve CSA as measured by ultrasound changes with age, height, and weight, while median nerve SWV values remain consistent despite these variations.
