Meralgia paresthetica: from qualitative ultrasound assessment to quantitative multimodality imaging
References
- Grossman MG, Ducey SA, Nadler SS, Levy AS. Meralgia paresthetica: diagnosis and treatment. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2001 Sep-Oct;9(5):336–44. doi: 10.5435/00124635-200109000-00007.
- van Slobbe AM, Bohnen AM, Bernsen RM, Koes BW, Bierma-Zeinstra SM. Incidence rates and determinants in meralgia paresthetica in general practice. J Neurol. 2004 Mar;251(3):294–7. doi: 10.1007/s00415-004-0310-x.
- Franco P De, Coraci D, Tsukamoto H, Paolasso I, Granata G, Padua L. 41. Ultrasound diagnosis of meralgia paresthetica: Review of literature and presentation of 8 cases. Clinical Neurophysiology 2013;124:e198. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2013.06.068.
- Aszmann OC, Dellon ES, Dellon AL. Anatomical course of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and its susceptibility to compression and injury. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1997 Sep;100(3):600–604. doi: 10.1097/00006534-199709000-00008.
- Paneyala S, S Chandrashekhar N, Sundaramurthy H, Prashant A, Krishna L. Efficacy of clinical tests in the diagnosis of meralgia paresthetica: a case control Study. Case Rep Med. 2024 Dec 9;2024:5191280. doi: 10.1155/carm/5191280.
- Avsenik J, Podnar S. Electrodiagnostic evaluation of meralgia paresthetica. Neuro-Sci. 2025 Jun 22;6(3):58. doi: 10.3390/neurosci6030058.
- Chianca V, Albano D, Rizzo S, Maas M, Sconfienza LM, Del Grande F. Inter-vendor and inter-observer reliability of diffusion tensor imaging in the musculoskeletal system: a multiscanner MR study. Insights Imaging. 2023 Feb 9;14(1):32. doi: 10.1186/s13244-023-01374-0.
- Palamar D, Terlemez R, Akgun K. Ultrasound-guided diagnosis and injection of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve with an anatomical variation. Pain Pract. 2017 Nov;17(8):1105–1108. doi: 10.1111/papr.12559.
- Tomaszewski KA, Popieluszko P, Henry BM, Roy J, Sanna B, Kijek MR, Walocha JA. The surgical anatomy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in the inguinal region: a meta-analysis. Hernia. 2016 Oct;20(5):649–657. doi: 10.1007/s10029-016-1493-7.
- Lee SH, Shin KJ, Gil YC, Ha TJ, Koh KS, Song WC. Anatomy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve relevant to clinical findings in meralgia paresthetica. Muscle Nerve. 2017 May;55(5):646–650. doi: 10.1002/mus.25382.
- Kurtzman JS, Barnett J, Feng R, Taub PJ, Margetis K. Meralgia paresthetica: an anatomical review and surgical case presentation utilizing a robotic exoscope. Plast Reconstr Surg Glob Open. 2024 Dec 13;12(12):e6352. doi: 10.1097/GOX.0000000000006352.
- Ray B, D’Souza AS, Kumar B, Marx C, Ghosh B, Gupta NK, Marx A. Variations in the course and microanatomical study of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve and its clinical importance. Clin Anat. 2010 Nov;23(8):978–984. doi: 10.1002/ca.21043.
- Sürücü HS, Tanyeli E, Sargon MF, Karahan ST. An anatomic study of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Surg Radiol Anat. 1997;19(5):307–310. doi: 10.1007/BF01637599.
- Nielsen TD, Moriggl B, Barckman J, Kølsen-Petersen JA, Søballe K, Børglum J, Bendtsen TF. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: description of the sensory territory and a novel ultrasound-guided nerve block technique. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2018 May;43(4):357–366. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0000000000000737.
- Bodner G, Bernathova M, Galiano K, Putz D, Martinoli C, Felfernig M. Ultrasound of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: normal findings in a cadaver and in volunteers. Reg Anesth Pain Med. 2009 May-Jun;34(3):265–268. doi: 10.1097/AAP.0b013e31819a4fc6.
- Chianca V, Di Pietto F, Zappia M, Albano D, Messina C, Sconfienza LM. Musculoskeletal ultrasound in the emergency department. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2020 Apr;24(2):167–174. doi: 10.1055/s-0039-3402050.
- Sconfienza LM, Adriaensen M, Albano D, Alcala-Galiano A, Allen G, Aparisi Gómez MP, et al. Clinical indications for image-guided interventional procedures in the musculoskeletal system: a Delphi-based consensus paper from the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR)-part VII, nerves of the lower limb. Eur Radiol. 2022 Mar;32(3):1456–1464. doi: 10.1007/s00330-021-08283-0.
- Becciolini M, Pivec C, Riegler G. Ultrasound of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: a review of the literature and pictorial essay. J Ultrasound Med. 2022 May;41(5):1273–1284. doi: 10.1002/jum.15809.
- Ellis J, Schneider JR, Cloney M, Winfree CJ. Lateral femoral cutaneous nerve decompression guided by preoperative ultrasound mapping. Cureus. 2018 Nov 28;10(11):e3652. doi: 10.7759/cureus.3652.
- Goulding K, Beaulé PE, Kim PR, Fazekas A. Incidence of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve neuropraxia after anterior approach hip arthroplasty. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2010 Sep;468(9):2397–2404. doi: 10.1007/s11999-010-1406-5.
- Cates RA, Boon AJ, Trousdale RT, Douge A, Sierra RJ. Prospective evaluation of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve injuries during periacetabular osteotomy. J Hip Preserv Surg. 2019 Jan 3;6(1):77–85. doi: 10.1093/jhps/hny050.
- Powell GM, Baffour FI, Erie AJ, Puffer RC, Spinner RJ, Glazebrook KN. Sonographic evaluation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in meralgia paresthetica. Skeletal Radiol. 2020 Jul;49(7):1135–1140. doi: 10.1007/s00256-020-03399-8.
- Tagliafico A, Martinoli C. Reliability of side-to-side sonographic cross-sectional area measurements of upper extremity nerves in healthy volunteers. J Ultrasound Med. 2013 Mar;32(3):457–462. doi: 10.7863/jum.2013.32.3.457.
- Ghavanini MR, Ghavanini AA. Meralgia paresthetica as the presenting feature of chronic appendicitis. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2001 Sep;80(9):703–705. doi: 10.1097/00002060-200109000-00012.
- Petchprapa CN, Rosenberg ZS, Sconfienza LM, Cavalcanti CF, Vieira RL, Zember JS. MR imaging of entrapment neuropathies of the lower extremity. Part 1. The pelvis and hip. Radiographics. 2010 Jul-Aug;30(4):983–1000. doi: 10.1148/rg.304095135.
- Park HW, Ji KS, Kim JH, Kim LN, Ha KW. Ultrasonographic identification of lateral femoral cutaneous nerve anatomical variation in persistent meralgia paresthetica: A case report. World J Clin Cases. 2023 Nov 6;11(31):7699–7705. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v11.i31.7699.
- Zhu J, Zhao Y, Liu F, Huang Y, Shao J, Hu B. Ultrasound of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve in asymptomatic adults. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2012 Nov 22;13:227. doi: 10.1186/1471-2474-13-227.
- Lee SC, Ko L, Gornbein C, Nwawka OK. Sonographic evaluation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve: single-institution experience and pictorial review. Ultrasound Q. 2024 Mar 1;40(1):27–31. doi: 10.1097/RUQ.0000000000000669
- Wee TC, Simon NG. Ultrasound elastography for the evaluation of peripheral nerves: A systematic review. Muscle Nerve. 2019 Nov;60(5):501–512. doi: 10.1002/mus.26624.
- Neto T, Johannsson J, Andrade RJ. Using ultrasound shear wave elastography to characterize peripheral nerve mechanics: a systematic review on the normative reference values in healthy individuals. Ultrasonography. 2024 May;43(3):169–178. doi: 10.14366/usg.23211.
- Ally RM, Velleman MD, Suleman FE. Meralgia paresthetica: Now showing on 3T magnetic resonance neurography. SA J Radiol. 2019 Aug 21;23(1):1745. doi: 10.4102/sajr.v23i1.1745
- Chhabra A, Del Grande F, Soldatos T, Chalian M, Belzberg AJ, Williams EH, et al. Meralgia paresthetica: 3-Tesla magnetic resonance neurography. Skeletal Radiol. 2013 Jun;42(6):803–808. doi: 10.1007/s00256-012-1557-4.
- Kollmer J, Bendszus M. Magnetic resonance neurography: improved diagnosis of peripheral neuropathies. Neurotherapeutics 2021 Oct;18(4):2368–2383. doi: 10.1007/S13311-021-01166-8.
- Chianca V, Albano D, Messina C, Vincenzo G, Rizzo S, Del Grande F, Sconfienza LM. An update in musculoskeletal tumors: from quantitative imaging to radiomics. Radiol Med. 2021 Aug;126(8):1095–1105. doi: 10.1007/s11547-021-01368-2.
- Chianca V, Albano D, Messina C, Cinnante CM, Triulzi FM, Sardanelli F, Sconfienza LM. Diffusion tensor imaging in the musculoskeletal and peripheral nerve systems: from experimental to clinical applications. Eur Radiol Exp. 2017;1(1):12. doi: 10.1186/s41747-017-0018-1.
- Vetrano IG, Sconfienza LM, Albano D, V, Nazzi V. Recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome in isolated non-syndromic macrodactyly: DTI examination of a giant median nerve. Skeletal Radiol. 2019 Jun;48(6):989–993. doi: 10.1007/s00256-018-3098-y.
- Tagliafico A, Calabrese M, Puntoni M, Pace D, Baio G, Neumaier CE, Martinoli C. Brachial plexus MR imaging: accuracy and reproducibility of DTI-derived measurements and fibre tractography at 3.0-T. Eur Radiol. 2011 Aug;21(8):1764–1771. doi: 10.1007/s00330-011-2100-z.
- Yoon D, Lutz AM. Diffusion tensor imaging of peripheral nerves: current status and new developments. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2023 Dec;27(6):641–648. doi: 10.1055/s-0043-1775742.
- Palamar D, Terlemez R, Misirlioglu TO, Aydın FY, Akgun K. Ultrasound-guided treatment of meralgia paresthetica: with or without corticosteroid? A double-blinded, randomized controlled study. Ann Indian Acad Neurol. 2023 Jan-Feb;26(1):67–72. doi: 10.4103/aian.aian_883_22.
- Kim JE, Lee SG, Kim EJ, Min BW, Ban JS, Lee JH. Ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block in meralgia paresthetica. Korean J Pain. 2011 Jun;24(2):115–118. doi: 10.3344/kjp.2011.24.2.115.
- Tumber PS, Bhatia A, Chan VW. Ultrasound-guided lateral femoral cutaneous nerve block for meralgia paresthetica. Anesth Analg. 2008 Mar;106(3):1021–1022. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0b013e3181632487.
- Costa Pereira M, Carvalho JL. Ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency treatment for meralgia paresthetica. Cureus. 2022 Feb 8;14(2):e22015. doi: 10.7759/cureus.22015.
- Fowler IM, Tucker AA, Mendez RJ. Treatment of meralgia paresthetica with ultrasound-guided pulsed radiofrequency ablation of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Pain Pract. 2012 Jun;12(5):394–398. doi: 10.1111/j.1533-2500.2011.00522.x.
- Abd-Elsayed A, Sahin MZ, Shiferaw BT. Lateral Femoral Cutaneous Nerve Radiofrequency Ablation for Meralgia Paresthetica: A Description of a Novel Technique. Adv Ther. 2025 Nov;42(11):5845–5853. doi: 10.1007/s12325-025-03360-y.
Language: English
Submitted on: Nov 24, 2025
Accepted on: Feb 23, 2026
Published on: Mar 31, 2026
Published by: MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS Sp. z o.o.
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Publication frequency: 4 issues per year
Keywords:
Related subjects:
© 2026 Vito Chianca, Edoardo Cesaro, Marco Curti, Nicola Landi, Antonio Fontanarosa, Marcello Zappia, Filippo Del Grande, published by MEDICAL COMMUNICATIONS Sp. z o.o.
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 License.