Role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

Abstract Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the commonest presentation of adult motor neuron diseases. Diagnosis can be difficult due to the heterogenous clinical presentation of the disease. Most neuromuscular ultrasound studies focus on imaging the same structures belonging to one o...

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Main Authors: Sherif Hassan Elwan, Mohammed Saher Hashem, Mona Mostafa Ghanem, Sandra Mohammed Ahmed, Hatem Samir Mohammed, Basma Bahgat Elsayed
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-03-01
Series:The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-00951-y
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author Sherif Hassan Elwan
Mohammed Saher Hashem
Mona Mostafa Ghanem
Sandra Mohammed Ahmed
Hatem Samir Mohammed
Basma Bahgat Elsayed
author_facet Sherif Hassan Elwan
Mohammed Saher Hashem
Mona Mostafa Ghanem
Sandra Mohammed Ahmed
Hatem Samir Mohammed
Basma Bahgat Elsayed
author_sort Sherif Hassan Elwan
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the commonest presentation of adult motor neuron diseases. Diagnosis can be difficult due to the heterogenous clinical presentation of the disease. Most neuromuscular ultrasound studies focus on imaging the same structures belonging to one or two segments of the neuroaxis. Facial nerve ultrasound has not been well investigated in ALS. This work aims at evaluating the role of neuromuscular ultrasound in diagnosing and monitoring ALS. Sixteen adult male patients diagnosed with clinically definite ALS, as well as twenty age and gender matched control subjects, were recruited. Each patient was given a score according to the ALS functional rating scale-revised edition. Electrophysiological studies and high-resolution ultrasound were performed on the Facial, Median, Ulnar, Tibial and Common peroneal nerves, as well as Masseter, Sternocleidomastoid, Biceps brachii/Brachialis complex, First Dorsal Interosseus, Vastus Intermedius/Rectus Femoris complex, and Tibialis anterior muscles. Results ALS patients demonstrated significantly decreased Facial nerve diameter, Tibial nerve cross sectional area, and thickness of Biceps/Brachialis complex, Tibialis anterior, First Dorsal Interosseus, and Vastus intermedius/Rectus femoris complex. Tibialis anterior thickness and Facial nerve diameter showed the highest sensitivity and specificity in monitoring clinical progression in ALS. Conclusion Neuromuscular ultrasound is a reliable objective tool in diagnosing and monitoring ALS.
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spelling doaj-art-32034ccd62ac460eb81f5dec5ea951912025-08-20T02:10:16ZengSpringerOpenThe Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery1687-83292025-03-016111910.1186/s41983-025-00951-yRole of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosisSherif Hassan Elwan0Mohammed Saher Hashem1Mona Mostafa Ghanem2Sandra Mohammed Ahmed3Hatem Samir Mohammed4Basma Bahgat Elsayed5Department of Internal Medicine, National Research CenterDepartment of Neurology, New Giza UniversityDepartment of Internal Medicine, National Research CenterDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityDepartment of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityDepartment of Clinical Neurophysiology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo UniversityAbstract Background Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is the commonest presentation of adult motor neuron diseases. Diagnosis can be difficult due to the heterogenous clinical presentation of the disease. Most neuromuscular ultrasound studies focus on imaging the same structures belonging to one or two segments of the neuroaxis. Facial nerve ultrasound has not been well investigated in ALS. This work aims at evaluating the role of neuromuscular ultrasound in diagnosing and monitoring ALS. Sixteen adult male patients diagnosed with clinically definite ALS, as well as twenty age and gender matched control subjects, were recruited. Each patient was given a score according to the ALS functional rating scale-revised edition. Electrophysiological studies and high-resolution ultrasound were performed on the Facial, Median, Ulnar, Tibial and Common peroneal nerves, as well as Masseter, Sternocleidomastoid, Biceps brachii/Brachialis complex, First Dorsal Interosseus, Vastus Intermedius/Rectus Femoris complex, and Tibialis anterior muscles. Results ALS patients demonstrated significantly decreased Facial nerve diameter, Tibial nerve cross sectional area, and thickness of Biceps/Brachialis complex, Tibialis anterior, First Dorsal Interosseus, and Vastus intermedius/Rectus femoris complex. Tibialis anterior thickness and Facial nerve diameter showed the highest sensitivity and specificity in monitoring clinical progression in ALS. Conclusion Neuromuscular ultrasound is a reliable objective tool in diagnosing and monitoring ALS.https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-00951-yAmyotrophic lateral sclerosisNeuromuscular ultrasoundFasciculations
spellingShingle Sherif Hassan Elwan
Mohammed Saher Hashem
Mona Mostafa Ghanem
Sandra Mohammed Ahmed
Hatem Samir Mohammed
Basma Bahgat Elsayed
Role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Neuromuscular ultrasound
Fasciculations
title Role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_full Role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_fullStr Role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_full_unstemmed Role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_short Role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
title_sort role of neuromuscular ultrasound in the evaluation of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
topic Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Neuromuscular ultrasound
Fasciculations
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s41983-025-00951-y
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