Diabetic Truncal Polyneuropathy

Diabetic truncal polyneuropathy is a clinical entity characterized by sensory deficit in the distribution of the thoracic intercostal nerves. The sensory loss is relatively symmetric and involves multiple thoracic dermatomes, beginning close to the anterior midline. Diabetic truncal polyneuropathy occurs in patients with advanced distal polyneuropathy involving the limbs. This entity is important because it can be confused with myelopathies that produce sensory levels over the torso. Moreover, recognition of diabetic truncal polyneuropathy is important since this disorder is associated with autonomic neuropathy.