Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science

Yeungnam University College of Medicine, Yeungnam University Institute Medical Science (영남대 의대 학술지 편집위원회)
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How much does clinical prediagnosis correlate with electrophysiological findings?: a retrospective study

  • Selda Ciftci Inceoglu (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Health Sciences University, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital) ;
  • Aylin Ayyildiz (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ministry of Health, Harakani State Hospital) ;
  • Figen Yilmaz (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Health Sciences University, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital) ;
  • Banu Kuran (Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Health Sciences University, Sisli Hamidiye Etfal Training and Research Hospital)
  • Received : 2024.04.24
  • Accepted : 2024.06.05
  • Published : 2024.07.31
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Abstract

Background: Electrodiagnostic testing (EDX) is important in the diagnosis and follow-up of neuropathic and myopathic diseases. This study aimed to demonstrate the compatibility between clinical prediagnosis and electrophysiological findings. Methods: EDX results from 2004 to 2020 at the physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) clinic were screened. Tests with missing data, reevaluation studies, and cases of peripheral facial paralysis were excluded. The clinical prediagnosis and EDX results were recorded, and their compatibility was evaluated. Results: A total of 2,153 tests were included in this study. The mean age was 49.0±13.9 years and 1,533 of them (71.2%) were female. The most frequently referred clinic was the PM&R clinic (90.0%). Numbness (73.6%) was the most common complaint, followed by pain (15.3%) and weakness (13.9%). The most common prediagnosis was entrapment neuropathy (55.3%), radiculopathy (16.1%), and polyneuropathy (15.7%). Carpal tunnel syndrome was the most frequently identified type of entrapment neuropathy (78.3%). Six hundred and seventy EDX results (31.1%) were within normal limits. While the EDX results were consistent with the prediagnosis in 1,328 patients (61.7%), a pathology different from the prediagnosis was detected in 155 patients (7.2%). In the discrepancy group, the most common pathologies were entrapment neuropathy (51.7%), polyneuropathy (17.3%), and radiculopathy (15.1%). The most common neuropathy type was carpal tunnel syndrome (79.3%). Conclusion: After adequate anamnesis and physical and neurological examinations, requesting further appropriate tests will increase the prediagnosis accuracy and prevent unnecessary expenditure of time and labor.

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