MRI of the brachial plexus

MR of the brachial plexus

Imaging by Magnetic resonance (MR) is the primary imaging technique in the evaluation of brachial plexus pathology. This imaging plays an important role in identifying, localizing and characterizing the cause, which may be inadequately assessed by clinical examination or electrophysiological studies . MR imaging of the brachial plexus makes it possible to distinguish between injuries, which is crucial for management decisions. Improvements in MRI technique have helped detect changes in nerve signal intensity, subtle enhancement and detection of peri-neural pathology, thereby improving differential diagnosis.

Possible causes of pain in the shoulder joint area:

• Shoulder plexopathies;
• Hereditary motor-sensory neuropathy (HSMN), also known as hypertrophic neuropathy or Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) syndrome;
• Inflammation of the brachial plexus nerve, such as viral;
• Entrapment syndrome is also called thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS);
• rotator cone damage;
• Shoulder joint instability;
• inflammatory changes;
• Duplay disease;
• shoulder joint pain syndrome;
• Tumors of the shoulder joint area (primary neurogenic tumors);
• Damage to the tendon of the long head of the biceps muscle;
• post-traumatic changes;
• many more…

Contraindications to performing MR of the brachial plexus.

Brachial plexus MRI cannot be performed in patients with permanently placed objects in the body, such as:

• neurostimulator,
• pacemaker,
• insulin pump,
• cochlear implant,
• OLD TYPE implants, endoprostheses, stabilizers, plates and orthopedic screws, which are made of ferromagnetic materials. Current implants are used that can be in the strong electromagnetic field found in MR.
• Shotgun shells, bullet fragments, metal filings in the eye.

Other relative contraindications to MRI are: first trimester of pregnancy.

• You should bring with you the results of all imaging studies that have been performed to date.
• If you are taking medication, you should take it at a consistent time.
• As a precaution, it’s best not to bring anything into the MR lab that contains metal, so in a magnetic field it could pose a danger to both the patient and the equipment and staff in the room – as well as to the reliability of the test results.
• MRI of the brachial plexus does not require the removal of clothing. However, the outfit should be comfortable – making it easier to maintain immobility – and free of metal parts, such as zippers, buttons, buckles, underwire and bra hooks, and even sequins and metallic prints.
• It is a good idea to appear for the examination some time in advance, so that you can calmly fill out a questionnaire about your condition and possibly consent to the administration of contrast. The person performing the MRI must also have time to review the medical records of the condition with which the patient is presenting for the MRI.

Course of the study

Our facility has a state-of-the-art Siemens Magnetom Sola MR. Its software can digitally reduce motion artifacts, so the examination has much higher quality. Nevertheless, the patient should lie still. Various supports, sponges or rollers (stabilizers) are often used for this purpose at. MRI of the brachial plexus is completely painless.