Magnetic resonance imaging of peripheral nerve tumours in the upper extremity

Clinical assessment and various diagnostic tools, particularly magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), of tumours of peripheral nerves are used to get an accurate diagnosis and to plan surgical intervention. Our purpose was to examine the usefulness of MRI in assessing nerve tumours in the upper extremity. Medical records of 19 patients (20 MRI examinations) with 29 histopathologically verified benign nerve tumours were examined retrospectively. In 12/20 cases MRI suggested a correct diagnosis of the type of nerve tumour. An additional 3/20 cases had an uncertain diagnosis, but nerve relations to the tumour were established. In 5/20 cases MRI gave a doubtful diagnosis with no suspicion of the tumour being located in a nerve trunk. MRI can localise and diagnose a nerve tumour in the upper extremity in 75% of cases, but it is difficult to specify the type of tumour.