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Semin Musculoskelet Radiol 2021; 25(04): 617-627
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1729961
Review Article

MRI Evaluation of Various Elbow, Forearm, and Wrist Neuropathies: A Pictorial Review

Rola Husain 
1   Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
,
Arthi Reddy
1   Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
,
Etan Dayan
1   Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
,
Mingqian Huang
1   Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
,
Idoia Corcuera-Solano
1   Department of Radiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York
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Abstract

Upper extremity entrapment neuropathies are common and can cause pain, sensory loss, and muscle weakness leading to functional disability. We conducted a retrospective review from January 2007 until March 2020 of the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of intrinsic and extrinsic causes of wrist, forearm, and elbow neuropathies of 637 patients who received a diagnosis of neuropathy by means of clinical and electrodiagnostic testing. We discuss cases with varying intrinsic and extrinsic nerve pathologies, including postoperative examples, affecting the median, radial, and ulnar nerve.

Our collection of cases demonstrates a diversity of intrinsic and extrinsic causative factors. Intrinsic pathologies include neuritis as well as tumors arising from the nerve. Extrinsic causes resulting in nerve entrapment include masses, acute and chronic posttraumatic cases, anatomical variants, inflammatory and crystal deposition, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and dialysis-related amyloidosis. Finally, we review postsurgical cases, such as carpal tunnel release and ulnar nerve transposition.

Although upper extremity neuropathies tend to have a typical clinical presentation, imaging, particularly MRI, plays a vital role in evaluating the etiology and severity of each neuropathy and ultimately helps guide clinical management.

Keywords

neuropathy - wrist - forearm - elbow - magnetic resonance imaging

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Article published online:
27 October 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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