A 25-year-old female asked:
would an mri of the brain and cervical spine be able to yield info about the source of peripheral neuropathy? or would lumbar spine be more approp?
1 doctor answer
Dr. Saptarshi Bandyopadhyay answered
21 years experience Hospital-based practice
Lumbar puncture (LP): If peripheral neuropathy is the diagnosis, then a lumbar puncture wd prob be higher yield than an MRI. MRI only detects anatomical abnormalities. Peripheral neuropathy is caused by a systemic condition - infection, metabolic (diabetes), auto-immune, etc. It is a functional (not anatomic) problem. In the right context, a LP cd show evid 4 viral, MS, & other causes. MRI will likely yield nothing.
Answered on Sep 11, 2015
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