[Study of the brachial plexus by magnetic resonance].
OBJECTIVE
Magnetic resonance (MR) is considered to be the best method available at present for diagnosis of lesions of the brachial plexus. In this study we analyze our experience in patients with pathology of the brachial plexus.


METHODS
Between August 1991 and March 1997 we did magnetic resonance studies on 42 patients with pathology of the brachial plexus. Our protocols included T1, T2 axial spin-echo sequences with 5 mm cuts and coronal echo of a T1-3D gradient with 2 mm cuts, together with a T1 coronal spin-echo, with cuts 2 mm in width.


RESULTS
The causes found were: traumatic 16 patients (38%), pathology of bone 2 (4.7%), 19 tumours (45.2%) with breast cancer being commonest, and no obvious aetiology in 5 (11.9%).


CONCLUSIONS
MR is the technique of choice for study of pathology of the brachial plexus of traumatic or tumour origin. In some patients, 11.9% in our series, no aetiology could be detected using MR.
Bartolomé
A
A
Unidad de RM y CT, Clínica La Milagrosa-San Francisco de Asis, Madrid, España.
González-Alenda
J
J
Bartolomé
M J
MJ
Fraile
E
E
Sánchez de las Matas
I
I
Villanueva
A
A
Pérez-Romero
M
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000150:complications; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000293:injuries / Q000473:pathology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000532:radiotherapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D009443:Neuritis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009463:Neuroma / Q000150:complications; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000473:pathology; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000009:adverse effects; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary; D013901:Thoracic Outlet Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
Estudio del plexo braquial por resonancia magnética.