Electrophysiologic evaluations

Abstract

Electrophysiologic testing in concert with the neurologic history and physical examination can be useful for evaluating the patient with suspected neurotoxicity. Procedures are selected depending on whether the central or peripheral nervous system, or both, are considered to be affected. Extensive data is available on the use of nerve conduction studies to substantiate and serially follow patients with peripheral neuropathy, and the electrophysiologic findings can be used to predict the most likely focus of pathology in the peripheral nervous system. With this information in hand, the electrodiagnostician can guide the clinical neurotoxicologist towards a broad differential diagnosis of the most likely neurotoxins.