A nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of a nerve for examination.
Biopsy - nerve
A nerve biopsy is most often done on a nerve in the ankle or wrist.
The health care provider apply medicine to numb the area before the procedure. The doctor makes a small surgical cut and removes a piece of the nerve. The nerve sample is sent to a lab, where it is examined under a microscope.
There is no special preparation.
When the numbing medicine (local anesthetic) is injected, you will feel a prick and a mild sting. The biopsy site will be sore for a few days after the test.
Nerve biopsy may be done to help diagnose:
Additional conditions under which the test may be performed:
A normal result means the nerve appears normal.
Note: Normal value ranges may vary slightly among different laboratories. Talk to your doctor about the meaning of your specific test results.
Abnormal results may be due to:
Nerve biopsy is invasive and is useful only in certain situations. Talk to your doctor about your options.
Shy ME. Peripheral neuropathies. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier. 2007: chap 446.
Review Date: 6/18/2011
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