BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuNerve biopsyBiopsy - nerveA nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of a nerve for examination. How the Test is Performed A nerve biopsy is most often done on a nerve in the ankle called the sural nerve. Other sites may be used, depending on the test.Your health care provider applies numbing medicine (local anesthetic) to the area before the procedure. The provider makes a small surgical cut and removes a piece of the nerve. The cut is then closed and a bandage is put on it. The nerve sample is sent to a lab, where it is examined under a microscope. How to Prepare for the Test Follow your provider's instructions on how to prepare for the procedure. How the Test will Feel When the numbing medicine is injected, you will feel a prick and a mild sting. The biopsy site may be sore for a few days after the test. Why the Test is Performed Nerve biopsy may be done to help diagnose:Axon degeneration (destruction of the axon portion of the nerve cell) Damage to the small nerves Demyelination (destruction of parts of the myelin sheath covering the nerve) MyelinMyelin is an insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inflammatory nerve conditions (neuropathies)Nerve biopsy is usually done to look for inflammation that could be damaging the nerve. Conditions for which the test may be done include any of the following:Mononeuritis multiplex (disorder that involves damage to at least two separate nerve areas) Mononeuritis multiplexMultiple mononeuropathy is a nervous system disorder that involves damage to at least two separate nerve areas. Neuropathy means damage to a periphe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Necrotizing vasculitis (group of disorders that involve inflammation of the blood vessel walls) Necrotizing vasculitisNecrotizing vasculitis is a group of disorders that involve inflammation of the blood vessel walls. The size of the affected blood vessels helps to ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Neurosarcoidosis (complication of sarcoidosis, in which inflammation occurs in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the nervous system) NeurosarcoidosisNeurosarcoidosis is a form of sarcoidosis, in which inflammation occurs in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the nervous system.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abnormal protein deposits on the nerve (amyloid) Vasculitis of the nerve Suspected tumor of the nerve Normal Results A normal result means the nerve appears normal. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may be due to:Amyloidosis (sural nerve biopsy is most often used) AmyloidosisPrimary amyloidosis is a rare disorder in which abnormal proteins build up in tissues and organs. Clumps of the abnormal proteins are called amyloid...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Demyelination Inflammation of the nerve Infections that damage nerves Loss of axon tissue Metabolic neuropathies (nerve disorders that occur with diseases that disrupt the chemical processes in the body) Metabolic neuropathiesMetabolic neuropathies are nerve disorders that occur with diseases that disrupt the chemical processes in the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Necrotizing vasculitis SarcoidosisSarcoidosisSarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks Risks of the procedure may include:Allergic reaction to the local anesthetic Allergic reactionAllergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that come into contact with the skin, nose, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastroin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Discomfort after the procedure Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Permanent nerve damage (uncommon; minimized by careful site selection). A small patch of skin may be permanently numb afterwards.Nerve biopsy is invasive and is useful only in certain situations. Talk to your provider about your options.Open ReferencesReferencesKatirji B. Disorders of peripheral nerves. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 106.Umansky D, Midha R. Peripheral nerve examination, evaluation, and biopsy. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 272.AllVideoImagesTogNerve biopsy - illustration Nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of nerve for examination. Through a small incision, a sample of nerve is removed and examined under a microscope. Nerve biopsy may be performed to identify nerve degeneration, identify inflammatory nerve conditions (neuropathies), or to confirm specific diagnoses.Nerve biopsyillustrationNerve biopsy - illustration Nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of nerve for examination. Through a small incision, a sample of nerve is removed and examined under a microscope. Nerve biopsy may be performed to identify nerve degeneration, identify inflammatory nerve conditions (neuropathies), or to confirm specific diagnoses.Nerve biopsyillustration Tests for Nerve biopsy Nerve biopsyLymph node biopsyMuscle biopsyBone marrow biopsyRelated Information Osmotic demyelination syndrome(Condition)Myelin(Special Topic)Necrotizing vasculitis(Condition)Primary amyloidosis(Condition)Sarcoidosis(Condition)Leprosy(Condition)Metabolic neuropathies(Condition)Peripheral neuropathy(Condition)Alcoholic neuropathy(Condition)Axillary nerve dysfunction(Condition)Carpal tunnel syndrome - InDepth(In-Depth) Review Date: 4/29/2023 Reviewed By: Joseph V. Campellone, MD, Department of Neurology, Cooper Medical School of Rowan University, Camden, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. 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Nerve biopsyBiopsy - nerveA nerve biopsy is the removal of a small piece of a nerve for examination. How the Test is Performed A nerve biopsy is most often done on a nerve in the ankle called the sural nerve. Other sites may be used, depending on the test.Your health care provider applies numbing medicine (local anesthetic) to the area before the procedure. The provider makes a small surgical cut and removes a piece of the nerve. The cut is then closed and a bandage is put on it. The nerve sample is sent to a lab, where it is examined under a microscope. How to Prepare for the Test Follow your provider's instructions on how to prepare for the procedure. How the Test will Feel When the numbing medicine is injected, you will feel a prick and a mild sting. The biopsy site may be sore for a few days after the test. Why the Test is Performed Nerve biopsy may be done to help diagnose:Axon degeneration (destruction of the axon portion of the nerve cell) Damage to the small nerves Demyelination (destruction of parts of the myelin sheath covering the nerve) MyelinMyelin is an insulating layer, or sheath that forms around nerves, including those in the brain and spinal cord. It is made up of protein and fatty ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Inflammatory nerve conditions (neuropathies)Nerve biopsy is usually done to look for inflammation that could be damaging the nerve. Conditions for which the test may be done include any of the following:Mononeuritis multiplex (disorder that involves damage to at least two separate nerve areas) Mononeuritis multiplexMultiple mononeuropathy is a nervous system disorder that involves damage to at least two separate nerve areas. Neuropathy means damage to a periphe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Necrotizing vasculitis (group of disorders that involve inflammation of the blood vessel walls) Necrotizing vasculitisNecrotizing vasculitis is a group of disorders that involve inflammation of the blood vessel walls. The size of the affected blood vessels helps to ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Neurosarcoidosis (complication of sarcoidosis, in which inflammation occurs in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the nervous system) NeurosarcoidosisNeurosarcoidosis is a form of sarcoidosis, in which inflammation occurs in the brain, spinal cord, and other areas of the nervous system.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Abnormal protein deposits on the nerve (amyloid) Vasculitis of the nerve Suspected tumor of the nerve Normal Results A normal result means the nerve appears normal. What Abnormal Results Mean Abnormal results may be due to:Amyloidosis (sural nerve biopsy is most often used) AmyloidosisPrimary amyloidosis is a rare disorder in which abnormal proteins build up in tissues and organs. Clumps of the abnormal proteins are called amyloid...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Demyelination Inflammation of the nerve Infections that damage nerves Loss of axon tissue Metabolic neuropathies (nerve disorders that occur with diseases that disrupt the chemical processes in the body) Metabolic neuropathiesMetabolic neuropathies are nerve disorders that occur with diseases that disrupt the chemical processes in the body.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Necrotizing vasculitis SarcoidosisSarcoidosisSarcoidosis is a disease in which inflammation occurs in the lymph nodes, lungs, liver, eyes, skin, and/or other tissues.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Risks Risks of the procedure may include:Allergic reaction to the local anesthetic Allergic reactionAllergic reactions are sensitivities to substances called allergens that come into contact with the skin, nose, eyes, respiratory tract, and gastroin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Discomfort after the procedure Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken) Permanent nerve damage (uncommon; minimized by careful site selection). A small patch of skin may be permanently numb afterwards.Nerve biopsy is invasive and is useful only in certain situations. Talk to your provider about your options.Open ReferencesReferencesKatirji B. Disorders of peripheral nerves. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 106.Umansky D, Midha R. Peripheral nerve examination, evaluation, and biopsy. In: Winn HR, ed. Youmans and Winn Neurological Surgery. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 272.