Somatosensory evoked potentials

Abstract

Somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) have been routinely used over the years to evaluate the somatosensory pathway and thereby supplement the diagnostic process when the history, neurologic examination, and imaging were not fully conclusive. The utilization of SEPs has become more popular in recent years despite the advance of imaging studies such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although no agreement has been found on the nomenclature and origins of some of the potentials, the most consistently recognized potentials have been used in clinical practice with montages and normative values set by each individual laboratory. The clinical use of SEPs will probably continue to increase as diagnostic and prognostic markers of central and peripheral nervous system disorders and in clinical trials.

Keywords: Dorsal column; Evoked potentials; Myelopathy; Neuropathy; Numbness; Short latency; Somatosensory.