Background : Peripheral neuropathy is one of the most common complications of chemotherapy and the most important reason for discontinuing treatment. Neuromuscular ultrasound is a valuable tool in diagnosing peripheral nerve and muscle diseases. The present study aimed to determine the effectiveness of neuromuscular ultrasound in diagnosing peripheral neuropathy in children undergoing chemotherapy.
Methods: In this case-control study, 50 children with leukemia who were referred to Baqaei 2 Hospital in Ahvaz and underwent maintenance phase chemotherapy were included in the study. They were divided into two groups of 25, based on clinical symptoms of neuropathy: symptomatic and asymptomatic. Children in both groups underwent evaluation with neuromuscular ultrasound. Finally, statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 20 software.
Finding: Of the 25 symptomatic children, 15 underwent neuromuscular ultrasound, 11 of whom had abnormal findings (73.3%). In the asymptomatic group, 7 children underwent neuromuscular ultrasound, and all of them had normal findings (100%). The most common finding was an increased cross-sectional area of the right and left peroneal nerves and the right tibial nerve. The overall ultrasound findings and the frequency of abnormal results for the right tibial and both peroneal nerves were significantly different between the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups.
Conclusion: Children are vulnerable during chemotherapy because their nervous systems are still developing, and these drugs can affect their neuromuscular systems. Therefore, neuromuscular ultrasound can be used as a reliable and accurate tool for diagnosing peripheral neuropathy in children undergoing chemotherapy.