Peripheral Neuropathy

Patients presenting with symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are commonplace in the practice of generalist physicians, office based or hospitalists. Although there are at least a thousand different causes for peripheral neuropathy, the majority of patients can be properly diagnosed (and managed) based on framing the diagnostic possibilities within one of six typical scenarios. The case presentations in this article illustrate common and less common but essential presentations and the approach to evaluation and treatment. For these patients the key to success lies in the history and clinical examination findings.