Three-tesla magnetic resonance neurography of the brachial plexus in cervical radiculopathy
- Resource Type
- Authors
- Takeshi, Yoshida; Takeshi, Sueyoshi; Shugo, Suwazono; Masahito, Suehara
- Source
- Musclenerve. 52(3)
- Subject
- Adult
Aged, 80 and over
Male
Electromyography
Middle Aged
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Cohort Studies
Cervical Vertebrae
Humans
Brachial Plexus
Female
Brachial Plexus Neuropathies
Radiculopathy
Retrospective Studies
- Language
- ISSN
- 1097-4598
There have been no reports of the use of 3-Tesla magnetic resonance neurography (3T MRN) to characterize cervical radiculopathy. In particular, there are no reports of MRN of brachial plexus involvement in patients with cervical radiculopathy.We reviewed retrospectively 12 consecutive patients with cervical radiculopathy who underwent 3T MRN.The median age was 54.5 years. Eleven of 12 patients were men. The distribution of nerve-root signal abnormality was correlated with intervertebral foraminal stenosis and the presence of muscles that exhibited weakness and/or signs of denervation on electromyography. MRN abnormalities were found to extend into the distal part of the brachial plexus in 10 patients.This study demonstrates that MRN is potentially useful for diagnosis in patients with suspected cervical radiculopathy. Moreover, the finding of brachial plexus involvement on MRN may indicate a possible pathophysiological relationship between cervical radiculopathy and brachial plexopathy.