Peripheral Neuropathy in Diabetes: What Can MRI Do?

• Published in: Diabetes (New York, N.Y.) Vol. 72; no. 8; pp. 1060 - 1069
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xianchen, Zhang, Fulong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Diabetes Association 01.08.2023
• Subjects: Biopsy; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - pathology; Diabetic Neuropathies - diagnosis; Diabetic neuropathy; Diagnosis; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Nerve conduction; Nerve Conduction Studies; Peripheral nerves; Peripheral Nerves - diagnostic imaging; Peripheral Nerves - pathology; Peripheral neuropathy
• ISSN: 0012-1797; 1939-327X; 1939-327X
• DOI: 10.2337/db22-0912

Diabetes peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is commonly asymptomatic in the early stage. However, once symptoms and obvious defects appear, recovery is not possible. Diagnosis of neuropathy is based on physical examinations, questionnaires, nerve conduction studies, skin biopsies, and so on. However, the diagnosis of DPN is still challenging, and early diagnosis and immediate intervention are very important for prevention of the development and progression of diabetic neuropathy. The advantages of MRI in the diagnosis of DPN are obvious: the peripheral nerve imaging is clear, the lesions can be found intuitively, and the quantitative evaluation of the lesions is the basis for the diagnosis, classification, and follow-up of DPN. With the development of magnetic resonance technology, more and more studies have been conducted on detection of DPN. This article reviews the research field of MRI in DPN.