Correlation Analysis between Referring Service, Pathologic and Clinical Outcomes of Peripheral Nerve Biopsy

Introduction: Peripheral nerve biopsy has diagnostic utility in certain conditions but comes with inherent procedural risks. We investigated the relationship between referring service and peripheral nerve biopsy outcomes. Methods: Retrospective chart review of nerve biopsies examining the relationship between referring service and diagnostic yield of the biopsy and alterations in clinical treatment based on biopsy results. Results: A total of 76 nerve biopsies were referred from neurology, rheumatology and internal medicine. Definitive pathology was returned for 57.7%, 75% and 100% of biopsies, respectively. Therapeutic implications occurred in 78.9%, 75% and 0% of biopsies, respectively. No statistically significant relationship is identified between referring service and definitive pathology result (p = 0.7857) or referring service and therapeutic implications (p = 0.2504). Conclusion: A correlation between the referring service for a peripheral nerve biopsy and diagnostic yield of the biopsy could not be identified in our data set. Pathologic results, even non-diagnostic results, had an appreciable impact on alterations of treatment plan.