Peripheral neuropathy is best described as

• A. Dermatomal and myotomal patterns with reflex changes
• B. Nerve-specific deficits in a defined nerve distribution
• C. Bilateral symmetric proximal weakness with preserved reflexes
• D. Nerve-specific deficits aligned to a single peripheral nerve distribution

Answer: (D)

Peripheral neuropathy refers to disease of the peripheral nerves, so the neurological deficits align with the distribution of the affected nerve rather than with spinal nerve roots or muscles. The best description is deficits that are limited to the pattern of a single peripheral nerve, i.e., a mononeuropathy. For example, if the ulnar nerve is affected, you’d see sensory and motor changes confined to that nerve’s distribution.

This helps distinguish from radiculopathy, which follows dermatomes and myotomes (dermatomal patterns with reflex changes), and from patterns of myopathy or other conditions that don’t map to a peripheral nerve distribution.