title: Imaging Findings in Patients with Zoster-Associated Plexopathy.
abstract: Herpes zoster is a reactivation of the latent varicella zoster virus. Among the complications of herpes zoster is zoster-associated limb paresis. The clinical and imaging features of patients with zoster-associated limb paresis due to plexopathies (zoster-associated plexopathy) have had limited description in the literature. The Mayo Clinic patient data base was searched by diagnostic code for patients diagnosed with herpes zoster between January 1, 1996, and September 30, 2012. Patients who met the inclusion criteria for zoster-associated limb paresis or herpes zoster with MRIs obtained were reviewed. Ten patients with zoster-associated plexopathy were identified. Imaging abnormalities were found in 70% of patients. Secondary denervation changes in shoulder girdle muscles and nerve T2 signal hyperintensity were the most frequent abnormalities (50%), followed by nerve enlargement (20%). Enhancement was not evident in any cases despite early imaging in 80% of the cohort. These results demonstrate the clinical utility of MR imaging in confirming the diagnosis of zoster-associated plexopathy.
authors.affiliation: From the Mayo Medical School (A.S.Z.).
authors.forename: A S
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7414-1311
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Zubair
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology (C.H.), Division of Neuroradiology.
authors.forename: C
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0301-0493
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology (J.W., A.N., L.K.J.).|Division of Pain Medicine (J.W.); Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota.
authors.forename: J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1164-8588
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology (J.W., A.N., L.K.J.).
authors.forename: A
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-3771-570X
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology (J.W., A.N., L.K.J.) Jones.Lyell@mayo.edu.
authors.forename: L K
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5851-8705
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D017668:Age of Onset; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D020516:Brachial Plexus Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology*; D004568:Electrodiagnosis; D020804:Encephalitis, Varicella Zoster / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D010291:Paresis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology