This is due to the fact that NCV's can only evaluate degeneration in the nerve. CPT permits diagnosis of early neuropathy due to its ability to diagnose and quantify hyperesthesia, which is known to correlate with inflammation or irritation of the nerve, the earliest stage of neuropathy. Repetitive testing also allows the clinician an opportunity to evaluate the efficacy of any therapeutic intervention, thereby maximizing the benefit with the minimal amount of treatment. Mellitus recommends examination of the feet for assessment of sensation at the initial visit and at subsequent visits. CPT testing provides a major advantage in this type of testing due to the non-aversive nature of the test.
Patients are far more likely to return for follow-up testing if the test is painless.
CPT testing, if used judiciously for initial diagnosis and subsequent evaluation of the patient's status through the course of their disease, can result in significant savings - both financially and in patient suffering. The CPT and the NCT evaluations are both utilized to provide an index of the long-term adequacy of dialysis therapy to the nephrologist. The CPT evaluation, however, enables the earlier detection of uremic polyneuropathy. The CPT evaluation in addition provides a means to diagnose CTS superimposed upon uremic neuropathy. Unlike the NCT, median nerve CPT measures are not effected by palmar scar formation resulting from prior surgical carpal tunnel release.