Magnetic resonance neurography of lumbar plexus in healthy people / 重庆医科大学学报

Objective:To Compare the difference between the data of normal lumbar plexus nerve measured through magnetic resonance neurography(MRN) with specimen. Methods:Volunteers of 30 healthy lumbar plexus nerve cases(19 males and 11 females) were selected, to measure the short shaft line and neuromuscular signal ratio of the right normal lumbar nerve root, ganglia, nerve and the femoral nerve stem, anatomy and measurements of the right lumbar plexus L2~5 nerve root,ganglia and nerve stem, femoral nerve morphology and size. And comparison of MRN measurement data and autopsy measurement data were conducted. Results:MRN could clearly show L2~5 nerve course, ganglion being circle or Oval enlargement, with the size about 3~6mm;a nerve root and stem displayed strips and smooth edge, with the size about 2~5mm, nerve Festival signal is more than the nerve root and stem. There was no significant statistical difference with the comparability between the obtained data and autopsy ones. Conclusion:MRN can clearly show lumbar plexus and major branches; its measured value can reflect changes in lumbar plexus. It is possible for diagnostic criteria of the lumbar plexus nerve diseases and dysplasia.

The Value of MRI in Diagnosis of Peripheral Nerve Disorders

OBJECTIVE: The development of magnetic resonance neurography(MRN) has made it possible to produce high-resolution images of peripheral nerves themselves, as well as associated intraneural and extraneural lesions. We evaluated the clinical application and utility of high-resolution MRN techniques for the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of peripheral nerve disorder(PND)s. MATERIAL AND METHOD: MRN images were obtained using T1-weighted spin echo, T2-weighted fast spin echo with fat suppression, and short tau inversion recovery(STIR) fast spin-echo pulse sequences. Fifteen patients were studied, three with brachial plexus tumors, five with chronic entrapment syndromes, and seven with traumatic peripheral lesions. Ten patients underwent surgery. RESULTS: In MRN with STIR sequences of axial and coronal imagings, signals of the peripheral nerves with various lesions were detected as fairly bright signals and were discerned from signals of the uninvolved nerves. Increased signal with proximal swelling and distal flattening of the median nerve were seen in all patients of carpal tunnel syndrome. Among the eight patients with brachial plexus injury or tumors, T2-weighted MRN showed increased signal intensity in involved roots in five, enhanced mass lesions in three, and traumatic pseudomeningocele in three. Other associated MRI findings were adjacent bony signal change, neuroma, root adhesion and denervated muscle atophy with signal change. CONCLUSION: MRN with high-resolution imaging can be useful in the preoperative evaluation and surgical planning in patients with peripheral nerve lesions.