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High resolution imaging of tunnels by magnetic resonance neurography

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Abstract

Peripheral nerves often traverse confined fibro-osseous and fibro-muscular tunnels in the extremities, where they are particularly vulnerable to entrapment and compressive neuropathy. This gives rise to various tunnel syndromes, characterized by distinct patterns of muscular weakness and sensory deficits. This article focuses on several upper and lower extremity tunnels, in which direct visualization of the normal and abnormal nerve in question is possible with high resolution 3T MR neurography (MRN). MRN can also serve as a useful adjunct to clinical and electrophysiologic exams by discriminating adhesive lesions (perineural scar) from compressive lesions (such as tumor, ganglion, hypertrophic callous, or anomalous muscles) responsible for symptoms, thereby guiding appropriate treatment.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by grant number 1T32EB006351 from the NIH. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH. K.C.W. gratefully acknowledges the support of RSNA Research and Education Foundation Fellowship Training Grant #FT0904, as well as that of the Walter and Mary Ciceric Research Award. A.C. acknowledges GERRAF, Siemens, and Integra Life Sciences research grants.

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The authors report no conflicts of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 601 N. Caroline Street, Room 4214, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Ty K. Subhawong, Shrey K. Thawait, Antonio J. Machado, John A. Carrino & Avneesh Chhabra

  2. Department of Radiology, Baltimore VA Medical Center, 10 North Greene Street, Baltimore, MD, 21201, USA

    Kenneth C. Wang

  3. Dellon Institute for Peripheral Nerve Surgery, 1122 Kenilworth Dr., #18, Towson, MD, 21204, USA

    Eric H. Williams

  4. Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 601 N. Caroline Street, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Shahreyar Shar Hashemi

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  1. Ty K. Subhawong
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Correspondence to Ty K. Subhawong.

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Subhawong, T.K., Wang, K.C., Thawait, S.K. et al. High resolution imaging of tunnels by magnetic resonance neurography. Skeletal Radiol 41, 15–31 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-011-1143-1

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