Anatomical study of phrenic nerve using ultrasound.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate whether ultrasonography may allow a precise assessment of the course and relations of the phrenic nerve in its cervical portion.


METHODS
This study, initially undertaken in five cadavers, was followed by high-resolution ultrasonographic study in 20 volunteers (40 nerves) by two radiologists in consensus. The location, course and relations of the phrenic nerve to the adjacent anatomical structures were analysed.


RESULTS
The phrenic nerve could be nicely identified through the majority of its course by high-resolution ultrasonography. Useful anatomic landmarks for the detection of the nerve could be defined; these include the transverse cervical and ascending cervical arteries. Some anatomical variations were observed.


CONCLUSIONS
Knowledge of the nerve's precise location, which may demonstrate individual variations, may have useful clinical applications.
Canella
Clarissa
C
Service de Radiologie et d'Imagerie Musculosquelettique, Hôpital Roger Salengro, Lille 59037, France. clacanella@yahoo.com.br
Demondion
Xavier
X
Delebarre
Arnaud
A
Moraux
Antoine
A
Cotten
Hervé
H
Cotten
Anne
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002102:Cadaver; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D010791:Phrenic Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult