Evaluation of requests for electrodiagnostic examinations

Emre, U., Kiran, S. , Unal, A., Atasoy, H.T. and Taşçilar, F.N. (2008) Evaluation of requests for electrodiagnostic examinations. Neurology, Psychiatry and Brain Research, 15(2), pp. 99-102.

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Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate mainly the relation between the preliminary suspected clinical diagnosis and the results of the electroneuromyography (ENMG) examinations of the patients whom were referred to ENMG laboratory. We also evaluated the demographic features, complaints, and concomitant diseases of patients referred to our ENMG laboratory from various hospitals and clinics. Method: A total of three hundred thirty-three patients referred to the ENMG laboratory of the Zonguldak Karaelmas University Neurology Department were included into study. Demographic features, neurological and other physical symptoms, suspected clinical diagnosis and result of electro-physiological examination of all patients were recorded. Result: Two hundred thirty patients were female and one hundred three patients were males. The mean age was 50.7±12.3 years. The most common recorded diseases were hypertension (31.8 %), diabetes mellitus (18.9 %) and thyroid function disorders (11.4 %). History of alcohol intake was recorded in 9 % and smoking in 36 % of patients. ENMG request was made by various specialists; Neurology, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery, Physical Treatment and Rehabilitation. ENMG abnormalities were found in 66.4 % of examined patients and carpal tunnel syndrome was the most common diagnosis (45.6 %). Consistency between the preliminary diagnosis and actual diagnosis was 63.4 % in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) subgroup, however it was 7.7 % for brachial plexopathy. Conclusion: ENMG investigation continues to play an important role in the differential diagnosis of peripheral nerve diseases. Clinicians should remember that ENMG is an expensive, invasive and uncomfortable test. It also requires a very long time. Paying more attention in history-taking and neurological examination for patients referred to ENMG laboratory by the physician will increase the preliminary diagnosis-diagnosis consistency. This study also emphasizes that better known and more seen diseases such as CTS are suggested more correctly by all the referral physicians then diseases with complex semiology and neurologic examination such as brachial plexopathy.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Kiran, Professor Sibel
Authors: Emre, U., Kiran, S., Unal, A., Atasoy, H.T., and Taşçilar, F.N.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Health & Wellbeing > Public Health
Journal Name:Neurology, Psychiatry and Brain Research
Publisher:Universitätsverlag Ulm
ISSN:0941-9500
ISSN (Online):2212-8581
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