Neuromuscular ultrasound for taxane peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer
Thomas Lycan, Fang‐Chi Hsu, Christine Ahn, Alexandra Thomas, Francis O. Walker, Omar P. Sangüeza, Yusuke Shiozawa, Sun Hee Park, Christopher M. Peters, E. Alfonso Romero‐Sandoval, Susan A. Melin, Steven Sorscher, Katherine Ansley, Glenn J. Lesser, Michael S. Cartwright, Roy E. Strowd
Abstract
Abstract Background Our study aim was to evaluate neuromuscular ultrasound (NMUS) for the assessment of taxane chemotherapy‐induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), the dose‐limiting toxicity of this agent. Methods This cross‐sectional study of breast cancer patients with taxane CIPN measured nerve cross‐sectional area (CSA) by NMUS and compared with healthy historical controls. Correlations were determined between CSA and symptom scale, nerve conduction studies, and intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD). Results A total of 20 participants reported moderate CIPN symptoms at a median of 3.8 months following the last taxane dose. Sural nerve CSA was 1.2 mm 2 smaller than healthy controls ( P ≤ .01). Older age and time since taxane were associated with smaller sural nerve CSA. For each 1 mm 2 decrease in sural nerve CSA, distal IENFD decreased by 2.1 nerve/mm (R 2 0.30; P = .04). Conclusions These data support a sensory predominant taxane neuropathy or neuronopathy and warrant future research on longitudinal NMUS assessment of CIPN.