Non-traumatic peroneal nerve palsy: MRI findings.
OBJECTIVE
To present magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of non-traumatic peroneal nerve palsy and to evaluate the usefulness of MRI in patients with non-traumatic peroneal nerve palsy.


METHODS
In a retrospective study, 11 consecutive patients presenting with peroneal nerve palsy were included. MR images of the lower leg and electrophysiological examinations were also reviewed. The cause of peroneal nerve palsy was determined on the basis of MRI findings and was evaluated using electrophysiological data. Nine patients with causative lesions detected on MRI, underwent surgery.


RESULTS
Clinical examination and electromyography (EMG) disclosed 11 peroneal lesions. MRI and EMG revealed three types of signal intensity change, i.e. deep peroneal nerve palsy type, common peroneal nerve palsy type, and superficial peroneal nerve palsy type. The MRI and EMG findings were in agreement in seven (65%) of the 11 study patients. In nine patients the causative lesions were identified using MRI, including ganglion cyst (n=6), osteochondroma (n=1), synovial cyst (n=1), and aneurysm (n=1).


CONCLUSIONS
Ganglion cyst is the most common cause of non-traumatic peroneal nerve palsy. MRI offers a noninvasive method for obtaining useful information to assess, localize, and monitor peripheral peroneal nerve palsy.
Kim
J Y
JY
Departments of Radiology St Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Paldal-gu, Suwon city, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea.
Ihn
Y K
YK
Kim
J S
JS
Chun
K A
KA
Sung
M S
MS
Cho
K H
KH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000783:Aneurysm / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D003287:Contrast Media; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005260:Female; D005682:Gadolinium; D045888:Ganglion Cysts / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D015831:Osteochondroma / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D010543:Peroneal Nerve / Q000473:pathology*; D020427:Peroneal Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium