ECHOTEXTURE OF PERIPHERAL-NERVES - CORRELATING BETWEEN US AND HISTOLOGIC-FINDINGS AND CRITERIA TO DIFFERENTIATE TENDONS

PURPOSE: To correlate the histologic structure and echotexture of peri pheral nerves and verify if ultrasound (US) findings can be used to di fferentiate nerve from tendon. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In an in vitro s tudy, the echotexture of normal peripheral nerves was correlated with the histologic findings. In an in vivo study, US was used to different iate median nerve from flexor pollicis longus tendon in healthy volunt eers (12 male and eight female subjects 7-68 years of age; mean age, 3 5 years). RESULTS: US examination of the peripheral nerve specimens sh owed hypoechoic areas separated by hyperechoic bands. The hypoechoic a reas corresponded to neuronal fascicles at histologic examination. Thi s fascicular pattern was clear in all median and ulnar nerves, 15 of 2 0 vagus nerves, and 19 of 20 sciatic nerves in the volunteers but not in recurrent laryngeal nerves. CONCLUSION: Peripheral nerves have a ty pical US pattern that correlates with histologic structure and facilit ates differentiation between nerves and tendons.