Omar Alomari, Bassel Alrabadi, Tarek A Hussein, Sanaa Shtayat, Rania A Hussein, Reem Alnahdi, Ragad Tawalbeh, Mahmoud Sayed Ahmed, Anas Elgenidy
{"title":"Ultrasound assessment of peripheral nerve size in Guillain-Barré syndrome: A systematic review and Meta-Analysis.","authors":"Omar Alomari, Bassel Alrabadi, Tarek A Hussein, Sanaa Shtayat, Rania A Hussein, Reem Alnahdi, Ragad Tawalbeh, Mahmoud Sayed Ahmed, Anas Elgenidy","doi":"10.1007/s00234-025-03728-5","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Purpose: </strong>Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder causing acute inflammatory polyneuropathy, resulting in muscle weakness. Timely diagnosis is critical to prevent complications such as respiratory failure and long-term disability. Ultrasound imaging of peripheral nerves, specifically assessing nerve cross-sectional area (CSA), has been suggested as a diagnostic tool for GBS. This systematic review aims to evaluate the utility of nerve ultrasound in diagnosing and monitoring GBS.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, searching databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to December 2024. Studies that used ultrasound to assess peripheral nerve size in GBS patients compared to healthy controls or other neuropathy patients were included. Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4 software.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Out of 848 studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria, with 12 included in the meta-analysis. A total of 528 patients with GBS were included. Ultrasound revealed significant increases in the CSA of cervical, peroneal, median, ulnar, and tibial nerves in GBS patients. Specifically, cervical nerve enlargement (MD: 1.45, P = 0.0008) and peroneal nerve enlargement (Mean Difference (MD): 2.09, P < 0.00001) were notable. Subgroup analysis revealed significant enlargement of the ulnar and tibial nerves across different anatomical regions.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ultrasound imaging of peripheral nerves, particularly changes in CSA, provides valuable diagnostic insight for GBS, may be helpful in early recognition and intervention. Further studies are needed to establish consistent CSA patterns and improve diagnostic accuracy across various GBS subtypes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19422,"journal":{"name":"Neuroradiology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.6000,"publicationDate":"2025-08-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Neuroradiology","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00234-025-03728-5","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q2","JCRName":"CLINICAL NEUROLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Purpose: Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) is an autoimmune disorder causing acute inflammatory polyneuropathy, resulting in muscle weakness. Timely diagnosis is critical to prevent complications such as respiratory failure and long-term disability. Ultrasound imaging of peripheral nerves, specifically assessing nerve cross-sectional area (CSA), has been suggested as a diagnostic tool for GBS. This systematic review aims to evaluate the utility of nerve ultrasound in diagnosing and monitoring GBS.
Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines, searching databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to December 2024. Studies that used ultrasound to assess peripheral nerve size in GBS patients compared to healthy controls or other neuropathy patients were included. Statistical analysis was conducted using Review Manager 5.4 software.
Results: Out of 848 studies, 25 met the inclusion criteria, with 12 included in the meta-analysis. A total of 528 patients with GBS were included. Ultrasound revealed significant increases in the CSA of cervical, peroneal, median, ulnar, and tibial nerves in GBS patients. Specifically, cervical nerve enlargement (MD: 1.45, P = 0.0008) and peroneal nerve enlargement (Mean Difference (MD): 2.09, P < 0.00001) were notable. Subgroup analysis revealed significant enlargement of the ulnar and tibial nerves across different anatomical regions.
Conclusion: Ultrasound imaging of peripheral nerves, particularly changes in CSA, provides valuable diagnostic insight for GBS, may be helpful in early recognition and intervention. Further studies are needed to establish consistent CSA patterns and improve diagnostic accuracy across various GBS subtypes.
期刊介绍:
Neuroradiology aims to provide state-of-the-art medical and scientific information in the fields of Neuroradiology, Neurosciences, Neurology, Psychiatry, Neurosurgery, and related medical specialities. Neuroradiology as the official Journal of the European Society of Neuroradiology receives submissions from all parts of the world and publishes peer-reviewed original research, comprehensive reviews, educational papers, opinion papers, and short reports on exceptional clinical observations and new technical developments in the field of Neuroimaging and Neurointervention. The journal has subsections for Diagnostic and Interventional Neuroradiology, Advanced Neuroimaging, Paediatric Neuroradiology, Head-Neck-ENT Radiology, Spine Neuroradiology, and for submissions from Japan. Neuroradiology aims to provide new knowledge about and insights into the function and pathology of the human nervous system that may help to better diagnose and treat nervous system diseases. Neuroradiology is a member of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and follows the COPE core practices. Neuroradiology prefers articles that are free of bias, self-critical regarding limitations, transparent and clear in describing study participants, methods, and statistics, and short in presenting results. Before peer-review all submissions are automatically checked by iThenticate to assess for potential overlap in prior publication.