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Objective In an attempt to clarify the usefulness of combined nerve and muscle biopsy in the diagnosis of neuromuscular disease when compared with traditional sural nerve biopsy, which made the etiological diagnosis possible in 66.3 % (165 /249) patients in our previous report.Methods We reviewed 15 biopsies of superficial peroneal nerve ((SPN) and peroneus brevis muscle (PBM) by one incision performed within one neurological clinic.All patients had peripheral neuropathy while 3 of them had myopathy clinically.The diagnostic significance of SPN/PBM biopsies were classified into 3 grade: 1、 essential; 2、 helpful;3、 no value.Results Of 15 SPN/PBM biopsies, 7 showed essential pathological findings which reached the etiological diagnosis ,including 5 definite vasculitis,1 inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and 1 amyloid neuropathy.5 biopsies are helpful for etiological diagnosis, including demyelinating neuropathy ,mild inflammation, and microvascular lesion, et al.3 biopsies are of no value for etiological diagnosis which only have nonspecific change such as type 2 fiber atrophy, neurogenic atrophy and axonal degeneration et al.Finally, SPN/PBM biopsies made the definite etiological diagnosis possible in 80% (12/15) patients.Conclusions SPN/PBM biopsy improved the yield of specific pathological and etiological diagnosis of neuropathy and myopathy such as vasculitis and amyloidosis with minor trauma and side effect.Further clinical and patholgical studies will be necessary for a better practice of combined nerve and muscle biopsy.