PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J.R. Petrasic
AU  - A. Chhabra
AU  - K.M. Scott
TI  - Impact of MR Neurography in Patients with Chronic Cauda Equina Syndrome Presenting as Chronic Pelvic Pain and Dysfunction
AID  - 10.3174/ajnr.A4994
DP  - 2016 Nov 10
TA  - American Journal of Neuroradiology
4099  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2016/11/10/ajnr.A4994.short
4100  - http://www.ajnr.org/content/early/2016/11/10/ajnr.A4994.full
AB  - BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Chronic cauda equina syndrome, defined as persistent damage of the cauda equina nerve roots within the spinal canal can be a challenging diagnosis with varied presentations. MR neurography imaging is more commonly being used to evaluate the lumbosacral spine of patients suspected of having subacute or chronic cauda equina syndrome. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of lumbosacral plexus MR neurography in the diagnostic thinking and therapeutic management of patients presenting with chronic pelvic pain and dysfunction and suspected chronic cauda equina syndrome.MATERIALS AND METHODS: Consecutive MR neurography lumbosacral plexus examinations at our institution were reviewed retrospectively. Relevant data collected included the following: patient demographics, clinical history, pertinent physical examination findings, preimaging diagnostic impression, prior MR imaging lumbar spine findings, MR neurography findings, postimaging diagnosis, and post-imaging treatment plan. The impact of imaging on the preimaging clinical diagnosis and therapeutic management was evaluated.RESULTS: Of 185 studies of patients who presented with chronic pelvic pain and/or dysfunction, 23 with clinically suspected chronic cauda equina syndrome and imaging findings were included in the study (2 subjects were lost to follow-up). The mean ages were 53 ± 12 years and 53 ± 16 years for men and women, respectively. The common etiologies included arachnoiditis (n = 8), tethered cord (n = 2), and simple/Tarlov cysts (n = 3). Eighteen of 23 (78%) subjects had a change in diagnosis resulting from MR neurography findings, and 5/23 (22%) had no change. Seventeen of 21 (81%) subjects had a change in management, and 4/21 (19%) had no change.CONCLUSIONS: MR neurography impacts the diagnosis and therapeutic management of patients with suspected chronic cauda equina syndrome.AbbreviationsCEScauda equina syndromeLSlumbosacralMRNMR neurographySHINKEInerve-SHeath signal increased with INKed rest-tissue rarE ImagingSPAIRspectral-attenuated inversion recovery