Diffusivity Measurements Differentiate Benign from Malignant Lesions in Patients with Peripheral Neuropathy or Plexopathy

Overview

Journal AJNR Am J Neuroradiol

Specialty Neurology

Date 2014 Oct 11

PMID 25300985

Citations 10

Authors

E L Yuh

S Jain Palrecha

G M Lagemann

M Kliot

P R Weinstein

N M Barbaro

C T Chin

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background And Purpose: Peripheral nerve disorders caused by benign and malignant primary nerve sheath tumors, infiltration or compression of nerves by metastatic disease, and postradiation neuritis demonstrate overlapping features on conventional MR imaging but require vastly different therapeutic approaches. We characterize and compare diffusivities of peripheral nerve lesions in patients undergoing MR neurography for peripheral neuropathy or brachial or lumbosacral plexopathy.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-three patients, referred for MR neurography at our institution between 2003 and 2009 for a peripheral mononeuropathy or brachial or lumbosacral plexopathy and whose examinations included DWI, received a definitive diagnosis, based on biopsy results or clinical and imaging follow-up, for a masslike or infiltrative peripheral nerve or plexus lesion suspicious for tumor. Mean ADC values were determined within each lesion and compared across 3 groups (benign lesions, malignant lesions, and postradiation changes).

Results: Both ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests demonstrated a statistically significant difference in ADC values across the 3 groups (P = .000023, P = .00056, respectively). Post hoc pair-wise comparisons showed that the ADC within malignant tumors differed significantly from that within benign tumors and postradiation changes. ADC within benign tumors and postradiation changes did not differ significantly from each other.

Conclusions: DWI may be highly effective for the differentiation of benign from malignant peripheral nerve masslike or infiltrative lesions.

Citing Articles

Advanced Imaging of the Peripheral Nerves, From the "How We Do It" Special Series.

Baal J, Yoon D, Patel R, Chin C, Shah V AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2024; 223(5):e2430826.

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Case report: Brachial plexopathy caused by malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and review of the literature.

Chen M, Li X, Feng X Front Neurol. 2023; 14:1056341.

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