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Diagnostics
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Clinical Anatomy and Diagnosis of Peripheral Nervous System—2nd Edition
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Clinical Anatomy and Diagnosis of Peripheral Nervous System—2nd Edition

A special issue of Diagnostics (ISSN 2075-4418). This special issue belongs to the section "Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 1938

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Alexandra Diana Vrapciu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Division of Anatomy, Faculty of Dentistry, Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: anatomy; radiography
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to announce an interesting Special Issue dedicated to the peripheral nervous system, a major division of the nervous system composed of the cranial and spinal nerves, and the autonomic nervous system, which mediates the relationship between the environment and the human body. We welcome reviews and original papers on anatomical variations in cranial nerves, autonomic ganglia, and neural circuits. Anatomical studies and reviews that use modern imaging techniques, such as MRI, are also encouraged. Reports of anatomical variations are extremely useful for readers to understand the versatility of signal transmission in the peripheral nervous system. Studies of microscopic anatomy, i.e., using certain neural markers, presents an excellent potential contribution to this Special Issue. Anatomical models and reviews exploring relevant physiological and physiopathological processes could demonstrate how shape determines function. Deepening this specific knowledge of the peripheral nervous system could also be accomplished through constructive criticisms of older studies that deviate from the modern, updated anatomical and clinical viewpoints.

Dr. Alexandra Diana Vrapciu
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Diagnostics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • anatomy
  • peripheral nervous system
  • imaging

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 1930 KB  
Article
Peripheral Nerve Ultrasound Findings in Hereditary Transthyretin Amyloidosis in Brazil
by Antonio Edvan Camelo-Filho, Anna Paula Paranhos Miranda Covaleski, Lara Albuquerque Brito, Cleonisio Leite Rodrigues and Ana Lucila Moreira
Diagnostics 2025, 15(20), 2556; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15202556 - 10 Oct 2025
Viewed by 766
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by systemic deposition of amyloid fibrils, leading to peripheral neuropathy and multisystemic involvement. Peripheral nerve ultrasound is a promising tool for detecting structural nerve changes, yet its use in Latin American [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by systemic deposition of amyloid fibrils, leading to peripheral neuropathy and multisystemic involvement. Peripheral nerve ultrasound is a promising tool for detecting structural nerve changes, yet its use in Latin American populations is limited. This study aimed to characterize nerve ultrasound findings in Brazilian patients with ATTRv. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 72 genetically confirmed ATTRv individuals from two Brazilian centers. Participants were classified into symptomatic patients with polyneuropathy (n = 31) and asymptomatic TTR variant carriers (n = 41). All participants underwent a standardized neurological examination, and nerve ultrasound was used to assess the median nerve, brachial plexus, and C6 root. Cross-sectional areas (CSAs) from the right side were used for analysis and compared to reference values. Results: Symptomatic patients showed increased CSAs in the median nerve (wrist: 10.17 mm2, arm: 9.8 mm2), C6 root (8.55 mm2), and brachial plexus (70.82 mm2; all p < 0.05), but not in the forearm. Notably, asymptomatic carriers exhibited nerve enlargement in the median nerve at the wrist, the C6 root, and the brachial plexus, despite lacking clinical signs of neuropathy. Peripheral nerve enlargement in ATTRv affects both symptomatic patients and asymptomatic carriers, with a predilection for proximal and entrapment sites. Conclusions: These findings support the utility of nerve ultrasound as a non-invasive biomarker for early nerve involvement in ATTRv. Further studies are warranted to validate its role in disease monitoring and guide therapeutic interventions, especially in genetically at-risk populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Anatomy and Diagnosis of Peripheral Nervous System—2nd Edition)
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Review

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38 pages, 6711 KB  
Review
Anatomy, Imaging, and Clinical Significance of the Cervicothoracic (Stellate) Ganglion
by Mugurel Constantin Rusu, Ionuţ Mădălin Munteanu, Alexandra Diana Vrapciu, Adelina Maria Jianu, Sorin Hostiuc, Răzvan Costin Tudose and Andrei Gheorghe Marius Motoc
Diagnostics 2025, 15(22), 2911; https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics15222911 - 17 Nov 2025
Viewed by 855
Abstract
Background/Objectives: The stellate ganglion (SG), formed by the fusion of the inferior cervical and first thoracic sympathetic ganglia in approximately 80% of individuals, plays crucial roles in cardiac innervation, pain management, and autonomic regulation. This review examines the anatomical variations, histological structure, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: The stellate ganglion (SG), formed by the fusion of the inferior cervical and first thoracic sympathetic ganglia in approximately 80% of individuals, plays crucial roles in cardiac innervation, pain management, and autonomic regulation. This review examines the anatomical variations, histological structure, clinical applications, and therapeutic implications of the SG and stellate ganglion block (SGB), presenting original high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of SG visualization, an underutilized approach in autonomic nervous system research. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive literature review of anatomical, physiological, and clinical studies on the SG, incorporating original anatomical dissections and high-resolution MRI. Contemporary research on SGB applications, complications, and mechanisms of action was analysed and correlated with imaging characteristics. Results: The SG demonstrates significant anatomical variability, including the presence of intermediate ganglia, accessory nerve pathways, and variable relationships with surrounding vascular structures. Our original MRI imaging consistently identified the SG at the thoracic inlet, anterior to the neck of the first rib, lateral to the longus colli muscle, and posterior to the vertebral artery, demonstrating that advanced imaging can reliably visualize this critical autonomic structure and its anatomical variants. Histologically, it contains typical sympathetic architecture, comprising postganglionic neurons, satellite glial cells, and specialized SIF cells that modulate ganglionic transmission. SGB shows therapeutic efficacy across diverse conditions, including cardiac arrhythmias, chronic pain syndromes, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders, and immune dysfunction. The procedure’s mechanisms involve both direct sympathetic blockade and complex neuroimmune pathways that affect central autonomic centers and lymphoid organs. Complications include vascular injury, pneumothorax, and nerve blocks affecting the recurrent laryngeal and phrenic nerves. Conclusions: The SG represents a critical autonomic structure with expanding clinical applications. This work advances the field by demonstrating that high-resolution MRI can consistently and non-invasively visualize the SG and its anatomical variations, knowledge previously mostly limited to cadaveric studies. Understanding these imaging-defined anatomical variations is essential for optimizing therapeutic interventions. Advanced imaging guidance integrated with comprehensive anatomical knowledge is crucial for maximizing efficacy while minimizing complications in stellate ganglion block procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Clinical Anatomy and Diagnosis of Peripheral Nervous System—2nd Edition)
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