title: Magnetic resonance neurography in the diagnosis of neuropathies of the lumbosacral plexus: a pictorial review.
abstract: Magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) is an important tool to detect abnormalities of peripheral nerves. This pictorial review demonstrates the MRN features of a variety of neuropathies affecting the lumbosacral plexus (LSP) and lower extremity nerves, drawn from over 1200 MRNs from our institution and supplemented by the literature. Abnormalities can be due to spinal compression, extraspinal compression, malignancy, musculoskeletal disease, iatrogenesis, inflammation, infection, and idiopathic disorders. We discuss indications and limitations of MRN in diagnosing LSP neuropathies. As MRN becomes more widely used, physicians must become familiar with the differential diagnosis of abnormalities detectable with MRN of the LSP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center, Lebanon, NH, USA. Electronic address: doctorrobbins@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nathaniel M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Robbins
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Vinil
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Benedetti
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Jason F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Talbott
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology and Biomedical Engineering, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Cynthia T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Vanja C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Douglas
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology; D008160:Lumbosacral Plexus; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000175:diagnosis; D009443:Neuritis / Q000175:diagnosis; D059348:Peripheral Nerve Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010524:Peripheral Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis; D020196:Trauma, Nervous System / Q000175:diagnosis
keywords: Lumbosacral; Magnetic resonance imaging; Peripheral neuropathy; Plexitis; Plexopathy