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Nerve biopsy - Risks

Alternative Names

Biopsy - nerve

What the risks are:

  • Permanent nerve damage (uncommon; minimized by careful site selection)
  • Discomfort after the procedure
  • Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
  • Allergic reaction to the local anesthetic

Special considerations:

Nerve biopsy is invasive and is useful only in certain circumstances. These include diagnosis of asymmetric and multifocal nerve disorders, conditions in which a nerve is palpably enlarged (the enlargement can be felt with the fingers), and suspected inherited pediatric nerve disorders.

  • Reviewed last on: 4/30/2007
  • Joseph V. Campellone, M.D., Division of Neurology, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.
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