Advanced techniques on horizon for MR imaging of brachial plexus

Excerpt

The brachial plexus is a large network of peripheral nerves arising from the spine in the neck, and supplies both motor and sensory functions to the upper extremities. The brachial plexus is implicated in a wide variety of injuries and is of great clinical significance. Due to its superficial positioning in the neck and sensitivity to positioning and stretching, the brachial plexus is particularly prone to injury. Accurately locating the injury site and characterizing the pathology aids in differential diagnosis, prognosis, and formulation of treatment strategies. Among various imaging modalities, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as the preferred method for the identification of brachial plexopathies [1]. …