Electrophysiological evaluations

Electrophysiologic testing in concert with the neurologic history and physi cal examination can be useful for evaluating the patient with suspected neu rotoxicity. Procedures are selected depending on whether the central or per ipheral nervous system, or both, are considered to be affected. Extensive d ata is available on the use of nerve conduction studies to substantiate and serially follow patients with peripheral neuropathy, and the electrophysio logic findings can be used to predict the most likely focus of pathology in the peripheral nervous system. With this information in hand, the electrod iagnostician can guide the clinical neurotoxicologist towards a broad diffe rential diagnosis of the most likely neurotoxins.