title: Entrapment neuropathies III: lower limb.
abstract: Clinicians frequently encounter compressive neuropathies of the lower extremity. The clinical history and physical examination, along with electrodiagnostic testing and imaging studies, lead to the correct diagnosis. The imaging characteristics of the compression neuropathies can include acute and chronic changes in the nerves and the muscles they innervate. We provide a detailed review of compression neuropathies of the lower extremity with an emphasis on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging characteristics. We discuss the clinical presentation, etiology, anatomical location, and MR imaging appearance of these neuropathies, including the piriformis syndrome, iliacus syndrome, saphenous neuropathy, obturator neuropathy, lateral femoral cutaneous neuropathy (meralgia paresthetica), proximal tibial neuropathy, common peroneal neuropathy, deep peroneal neuropathy, superficial peroneal neuropathy, tarsal tunnel syndrome, Baxter's neuropathy, jogger's foot, sural neuropathy, and Morton's neuroma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hospital for Joint Diseases, New York University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Luis S
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Beltran
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bencardino
authors.forename: Varand
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ghazikhanian
authors.forename: Javier
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beltran
mesh_terms: D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D020428:Femoral Neuropathy; D005528:Foot / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D006615:Hip / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000473:pathology*; D009776:Obturator Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D020427:Peroneal Neuropathies / Q000473:pathology; D055958:Piriformis Muscle Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D013497:Sural Nerve / Q000473:pathology; D013641:Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000473:pathology; D013848:Thigh / Q000294:innervation / Q000473:pathology