The brachial plexus: normal anatomy, pathology, and MR imaging

Bowen, Brian C.; Pattany, Pradip M.; Saraf‐Lavi, Efrat; Maravilla, Kenneth R.

doi:10.1016/j.nic.2003.12.002

Cited by 76 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 66 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Moreover, conducting an imaging workup is useful for ruling out other pathologies that can mimic the symptoms, including primitive and secondary tumours, paraneoplastic immunomediated syndromes, bony and soft tissue thoracic outlet syndromes and joint shoulder disease. MRI is the technique of choice in patients with shoulder pain and weakness (17,18). In our small series, MRI was able to exclude compressive aetiologies in the plexus and support the clinical and neurophysiological findings of idiopathic plexopathy by demonstrating the occurrence of discrete acute inflammatory changes in the brachial plexus structures in seven of the eight patients (#1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7 and 8).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

MRI Neurography Findings in Patients with Idiopathic Brachial Plexopathy: Correlations with Clinical-neurophysiological Data in Eight Consecutive Cases

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective Idiopathic brachial plexopathy is a non-progressive disorder characterized by the sudden onset of shoulder pain associated with weakness and sometimes paraesthesia of the arm. Clinical and electrophysiological examinations are the primary diagnostic tools and allow physicians to localize the site of damage. MRI neurography is rarely performed in this setting. Methods We herein describe the cases of eight consecutive patients suffering from idiopathic brachial plexopathy. All patients underwent clinical visits, neurophysiological evaluations and MRI neurography. Results We confirmed the primary role of clinical and neurophysiological evaluations in the diagnosis of idiopathic brachial plexopathy and demonstrate the usefulness of brachial plexus MRI neurography for confirming the presence of inflammatory changes. Conclusion In patients with idiopathic brachial plexopathy, MR neurography is a helpful tool for excluding different aetiologies, such as compression or tumour formation, and/or confirming inflammatory changes.

show abstract

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 62%

MRI Neurography Findings in Patients with Idiopathic Brachial Plexopathy: Correlations with Clinical-neurophysiological Data in Eight Consecutive Cases

et al. 2013

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Lymphoma can involve the brachial plexus in two ways (infiltration of the plexus by affected lymph nodes and by neurolymphoma, i.e., primary lymphoma of the peripheral nerves) (Fig. 6) (8). It is often difficult to differentiate between recurrent tumor and radiation-induced plexopathy in patients with history of cancer and clinical evidence of plexopathy following radiation therapy.…”

Section: Imaging Anatomy and Pathologies Of The Major Nerves In The Neckmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-resolution Imaging of Neural Anatomy and Pathology of the Neck

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The neck has intricately connected neural structures, including cervical and brachial plexi, the sympathetic system, lower cranial nerves, and their branches. Except for brachial plexus, there has been little research regarding the normal imaging appearance or corresponding pathologies of neural structures in the neck. The development in imaging techniques with better spatial resolution and signal-to-noise ratio has made it possible to see many tiny nerves to predict complications related to image-guided procedures and to better assess treatment response, especially in the management of oncology patients. The purposes of this review is to present imaging-based anatomy of major nerves in the neck and explain their relevant clinical significance according to representative pathologies of regarded nerves in the neck.

show abstract

“…However, few MR studies in OBPLs and adult brachial traumatic plexopathies have actually reported observation of the roots from the spinal cord by using three-dimensional T2-weighted sequences (21)(22)(23). Most of these reports focused only on the presence of pseudocysts ( 11,(24)(25)(26)(27). However, the presence of avulsions cannot be ruled out in the absence of a pseudocyst ( 23,26,28,29 ).…”

Section: Neuroradiology: Ct Myelography In Obstetric Brachial Plexus mentioning

confidence: 99%

Obstetric Brachial Plexus Lesions: CT Myelography

Steens¹,

Pondaag²,

Malessy³

et al. 2011

Radiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose:To evaluate the value of computed tomographic (CT) myelography in the detection of root damage and differentiation of root avulsions from neurotmesis in a large cohort of patients with an obstetric brachial plexus lesion (OBPL). Materials and Methods:Institutional review board approval was obtained. Informed consent was waived by the medical ethics committee. One hundred eighteen patients with OBPL born in the cephalic position and six patients born in the breech position were selected for surgery by two neurosurgeons in a multidisciplinary team. Functional loss of the C5 through T1 innervated muscles was noted. All patients underwent preoperative CT myelography at an average age of 19 weeks. CT myelographic examination results were reviewed by two radiologists, who were blinded to the clinical fi ndings, for the presence of root avulsions and pseudocysts. Interobserver agreement was assessed by calculating k values. Results:CT myelographic results showed root avulsions in at least one level in 66 (56%) of 118 patients born in the cephalic position and in six (100%) of six patients born in the breech position. Levels C7 and C8 showed the most root avulsions, even if not expected from clinical examination results. A large number of root avulsions showed pseudocysts (73 [68%] of 107 levels in patients born in the cephalic position and 11 [73%] of 15 levels in patients born in the breech position). Conclusion:CT myelographic results showed root avulsions in more than half of patients with OBPL. Root avulsions were even detected at levels that were not expected at clinical examination. Because root avulsions require specifi c reconstructive techniques, CT myelography is recommended for every preoperative patient with OBPL.

show abstract

The brachial plexus: normal anatomy, pathology, and MR imaging

Cited by 76 publications

References 66 publications

MRI Neurography Findings in Patients with Idiopathic Brachial Plexopathy: Correlations with Clinical-neurophysiological Data in Eight Consecutive Cases

MRI Neurography Findings in Patients with Idiopathic Brachial Plexopathy: Correlations with Clinical-neurophysiological Data in Eight Consecutive Cases

High-resolution Imaging of Neural Anatomy and Pathology of the Neck

Obstetric Brachial Plexus Lesions: CT Myelography

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About