Diffusion tensor imaging MR neurography in patients with acute or chronic plexopathy

The nerve plexus is susceptible to various pathological processes. In addition to clinical and electrophysiological findings, magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) may contribute to characterize plexus involvement. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was reported feasible for the nerve plexuses imaging bu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neuroradiology 2022-01, Vol.49 (1), p.2-8
Main Authors: Hodel, Jérôme, Lefaucheur, Jean-Pascal, Tolédano, Sarah, Badat, Neesmah, Rondenet, Camille, Zuber, Mathieu, Zins, Marc, Créange, Alain
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute and chronic plexopathy
Diffusion Tensor Imaging
Diffusion-weighted imaging
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MR neurography
Nerve plexus
Retrospective Studies
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Summary:The nerve plexus is susceptible to various pathological processes. In addition to clinical and electrophysiological findings, magnetic resonance neurography (MRN) may contribute to characterize plexus involvement. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was reported feasible for the nerve plexuses imaging but its value in the clinical practice remains uncertain. From 2014 to 2020, we routinely performed MRN including DTI at 3T in patients with acute or chronic plexopathy. DTI images were co-registered with conventional MRN images. MRN images including DTI were reviewed by consensus by two neuroradiologists and one neurologist. They retrospectively identified cases for whom the use of DTI had a potential impact on the diagnostic workup, seven of these clinical cases are presented here. Compared to conventional MRN, the added value of DTI consisted in: (i) improved detection of signal/morphological abnormalities of the plexus (due to removal of background structures, multiplanar reformatted views and large field of view), (ii) additional information regarding the microarchitecture of nerve fibers provided by DTI metrics, (iii) potential alternative for the use of gadolinium. This case series supports the implementation of DTI in MRN protocols.
ISSN:0150-9861
DOI:10.1016/j.neurad.2021.06.002