Skip to main content
Top
Published in: Journal of Neurology 1/2010

01-01-2010 | Review

Brachial neuritis caused by varicella-zoster diagnosed by changes in brachial plexus on MRI

Authors: Tariq Ayoub, Vivek Raman, Muhammad Chowdhury

Published in: Journal of Neurology | Issue 1/2010

Login to get access

Abstract

Brachial neuritis is a rare disorder affecting the brachial plexus. It is characterized by the acute onset of shoulder and arm pain followed by weakness, sensory loss and atrophy. Diagnosis is essentially clinical with electrophysiological investigations and imaging useful in excluding other differentials and supporting the diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) usually does not show any pathology in the brachial plexus or spinal cord. We present a case of a patient who had brachial neuritis preceded by varicella zoster infection. This was supported by MRI which showed abnormal signal consistent with inflammatory changes in the brachial plexus.
Literature
1.
go back to reference Beghi E, Kurland LT, Mulder DW, Nicolosi A (1985) Brachial plexus neuropathy in the population of Rochester, Minnesota. Ann Neurol 18:320–323CrossRefPubMed Beghi E, Kurland LT, Mulder DW, Nicolosi A (1985) Brachial plexus neuropathy in the population of Rochester, Minnesota. Ann Neurol 18:320–323CrossRefPubMed
2.
go back to reference Tsairis P, Dyck PJ, Mulder DW (1972) Natural history of brachial plexus neuropathy. Report on 99 patients. Arch Neurol 27:109–117PubMed Tsairis P, Dyck PJ, Mulder DW (1972) Natural history of brachial plexus neuropathy. Report on 99 patients. Arch Neurol 27:109–117PubMed
3.
go back to reference Weikers NJ, Mattson RH (1969) Acute paralytic brachial neuritis. A clinical and electrodiagnostic study. Neurology 19:1153–1158PubMed Weikers NJ, Mattson RH (1969) Acute paralytic brachial neuritis. A clinical and electrodiagnostic study. Neurology 19:1153–1158PubMed
4.
go back to reference Helms CA, Martinez S, Speer KP (1998) Acute brachial neuritis (Parsonage-Turner syndrome): MR imaging appearance—report of three cases. Radiology 207:255–259PubMed Helms CA, Martinez S, Speer KP (1998) Acute brachial neuritis (Parsonage-Turner syndrome): MR imaging appearance—report of three cases. Radiology 207:255–259PubMed
5.
go back to reference Dill-Macky MJ, Song S, Silbert PL (2000) Magnetic resonance imaging features of subacute idiopathic brachial neuritis. Australas Radiol 44:98–100CrossRefPubMed Dill-Macky MJ, Song S, Silbert PL (2000) Magnetic resonance imaging features of subacute idiopathic brachial neuritis. Australas Radiol 44:98–100CrossRefPubMed
6.
go back to reference Tonali P (1983) So-called neuralgic amyotrophy: clinical features and long term follow-up. Ital J Neurol Sci 4:431–437CrossRefPubMed Tonali P (1983) So-called neuralgic amyotrophy: clinical features and long term follow-up. Ital J Neurol Sci 4:431–437CrossRefPubMed
7.
go back to reference DePalma AF (1983) Shoulder-arm-hand pain of mesodermal, neurogenic, and vascular origin. In: DePalma AF (ed) Surgery of the shoulder, 3rd edn. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 597–598 DePalma AF (1983) Shoulder-arm-hand pain of mesodermal, neurogenic, and vascular origin. In: DePalma AF (ed) Surgery of the shoulder, 3rd edn. Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 597–598
8.
go back to reference Miller JD, Pruitt S, McDonald TJ (2000) Acute brachial plexus neuritis: an uncommon cause of shoulder pain. Am Fam Physician 62:2067–2072PubMed Miller JD, Pruitt S, McDonald TJ (2000) Acute brachial plexus neuritis: an uncommon cause of shoulder pain. Am Fam Physician 62:2067–2072PubMed
9.
go back to reference Tetzlaff JE, Dilger J, Yap E, Brems J (1997) Idiopathic brachial plexitis after total shoulder replacement with interscalene brachial plexus block. Anesth Analg 85:644–646CrossRefPubMed Tetzlaff JE, Dilger J, Yap E, Brems J (1997) Idiopathic brachial plexitis after total shoulder replacement with interscalene brachial plexus block. Anesth Analg 85:644–646CrossRefPubMed
10.
go back to reference Suarez GA, Giannini C, Bosch EP et al (1996) Immune brachial plexus neuropathy: suggestion for an inflammatory-immune pathogenesis. Neurology 46:559–561PubMed Suarez GA, Giannini C, Bosch EP et al (1996) Immune brachial plexus neuropathy: suggestion for an inflammatory-immune pathogenesis. Neurology 46:559–561PubMed
11.
go back to reference Effron M, Singh R, Custodio C, Stubblefield M (2005) Poster 37: brachial neuritis after varicella-zoster virus infection in an adult man with breast cancer: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 86(9):e13CrossRef Effron M, Singh R, Custodio C, Stubblefield M (2005) Poster 37: brachial neuritis after varicella-zoster virus infection in an adult man with breast cancer: a case report. Arch Phys Med Rehabil 86(9):e13CrossRef
12.
go back to reference Waxman S (1979) The flexion-adduction sign in neuralgic amyotrophy. Neurology 29:1301–1304PubMed Waxman S (1979) The flexion-adduction sign in neuralgic amyotrophy. Neurology 29:1301–1304PubMed
13.
go back to reference Bacevich BB (1976) Paralytic brachial neuritis. Case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 58A:262–263 Bacevich BB (1976) Paralytic brachial neuritis. Case report. J Bone Joint Surg Am 58A:262–263
14.
go back to reference Walsh NE, Dumitru D, Kalantri A, Roman AM Jr (1987) Brachial neuritis involving the bilateral phrenic nerves. Arch Phys Med Rehabil l68:46–48 Walsh NE, Dumitru D, Kalantri A, Roman AM Jr (1987) Brachial neuritis involving the bilateral phrenic nerves. Arch Phys Med Rehabil l68:46–48
15.
Metadata
Title
Brachial neuritis caused by varicella-zoster diagnosed by changes in brachial plexus on MRI
Authors
Tariq Ayoub
Vivek Raman
Muhammad Chowdhury
Publication date
01-01-2010
Publisher
D. Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Journal of Neurology / Issue 1/2010
Print ISSN: 0340-5354
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1459
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00415-009-5266-4

Other articles of this Issue 1/2010

Journal of Neurology 1/2010 Go to the issue