Although ultrasonographic (US) visualization of peripheral nerves is becoming more and more frequently used, there are few studies on its actual contribution to the diagnosis and management of patients with peripheral nerve disorders.

The electronic records of consecutive patients referred to our US laboratory over an eight-month period were retrospectively analyzed. The contribution of US examination to patient management was evaluated.

Two hundred and thirty one consecutive patients (43% men) were analyzed. The US result was pathologic in 71% of patients. US provided a new diagnosis in 3% of patients (including 4 with tumors), contributed other additional information in 60%, and only confirmed the referral diagnosis in 11%. In 26% of patients, US was neither confirmatory nor contributive, nor did it provide a new diagnosis. US sensitivity in electrodiagnostically (EDx) confirmed ulnar neuropathy at the elbow (UNE) was 77% and median neuropathy at the wrist 84%. In EDx negative patients, US sensitivities were 47% and 40%, respectively.

The study demonstrated the ability of peripheral nerve US to provide useful diagnostic information in the majority of adequately referred patients.