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US imaging of the musculocutaneous nerve

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Abstract

Purpose

To describe the potential value of high-resolution sonography for evaluation of the musculocutaneous nerve (MCN).

Materials and methods

The normal anatomy of the MCN was evaluated on three cadaveric limbs and correlated with the US images obtained in 15 healthy subjects. Seven consecutive patients with MCN neuropathy were then evaluated with sonography using 17.5 and 12.5-MHz broadband linear array transducers. All patients had abnormal nerve conduction studies and underwent correlative MR imaging on a 1.5-T system.

Results

One-to-one comparison between cadaveric specimens and sonographic images showed that the MCN can be reliably identified from the axilla through the elbow, including the lateral antebrachial cutaneous (LAbC) nerve. In the patients group with MCN neuropathy, sonography allowed detection of a wide spectrum of abnormalities. In 5/7 cases, a spindle neuroma was depicted in continuity with the nerve. In one case, US identified focal swelling of the nerve and in another case US was negative. The neuroma was hyperintense on T2-weighted sequences in 75% of cases. In one patient, the nerve showed Gd-enhancement on fat-suppressed T1-weighted sequences. The nerve was never detected on unenhanced T1-scans. Owing to its small-size and out-of-plane course, the MCN may be more reliably depicted with sonography rather than with MR imaging.

Conclusions

US is promising for evaluating traumatic injuries of the MCN. By providing unique information on the entire course of the nerve, US can be used as a valuable complement of clinical and electrophysiologic findings.

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Abbreviations

MC:

Musculocutaneous nerve

LAbC:

Lateral antebrachial cutaneous nerve

CoBr:

Coracobrachialis muscle

BiBr:

Biceps brachii muscle

Bra:

Brachialis muscle

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Correspondence to Alberto Stefano Tagliafico.

Additional information

From the 2007 ESSR Annual Meeting (ESSR: European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology)

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Tagliafico, A.S., Michaud, J., Marchetti, A. et al. US imaging of the musculocutaneous nerve. Skeletal Radiol 40, 609–616 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-010-1046-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-010-1046-6

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