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A 35-Year-Old Man with Pain and Numbness in the Left Lateral Thigh

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A Case-Based Guide to Neuromuscular Pathology

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Abstract

Meralgia paresthetica is a focal neuropathy caused by compression of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve (LFCN). The disease can be difficult to assess by nerve conduction study (NCS) or imaging studies. Skin biopsy is useful for diagnosing this condition. Here, we describe an obese patient with pain and numbness in the left lateral thigh. NCS was non-diagnostic. Skin biopsy showed reduced intraepidermal nerve fiber density at the affected left lateral proximal thigh but not the asymptomatic right lateral proximal thigh. The case demonstrates the usefulness of skin biopsy in diagnosing unilateral mononeuropathy with small fiber degeneration.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Lan Zhou

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  1. Lan Zhou
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Correspondence to Lan Zhou .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Departments of Neurology and Pathology, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA

    Lan Zhou

  2. Department of Pathology, Neuropathology Section, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Dennis K. Burns

  3. Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA

    Chunyu Cai

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Zhou, L. (2020). A 35-Year-Old Man with Pain and Numbness in the Left Lateral Thigh. In: Zhou, L., Burns, D., Cai, C. (eds) A Case-Based Guide to Neuromuscular Pathology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25682-1_42

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-25682-1_42

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-25681-4

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-25682-1

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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