Brachial plexus magnetic resonance imaging differentiates between inflammatory neuropathies and does not predict...

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Radiology
• Immunology

Background:

• Inflammatory neuropathies like multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), Lewis-Sumner syndrome (LSS), and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) affect the peripheral nervous system.
• Brachial plexus involvement is a key feature in some of these conditions.
• Understanding the relationship between imaging findings and clinical presentation is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the correlation between brachial plexus MRI abnormalities and clinical weakness.
• To determine the predictive value of brachial plexus MRI for disease course and treatment response in MMN, LSS, and CIDP.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-seven patients with inflammatory neuropathy underwent bilateral T2 STIR brachial plexus MRI.
• Clinical follow-up data were collected.
• MRIs were scored for abnormalities and symmetry of distribution.

Main Results:

• Brachial plexus MRI abnormalities were found in 45% of patients.
• Asymmetrical abnormalities correlated with asymmetrical syndromes in MMN and LSS (p < .001).
• Symmetrical abnormalities were predominant in CIDP (p < .001).
• Abnormal MRI did not predict disease course, weakness patterns, sensory disturbances, or treatment response.

Conclusions:

• T2 STIR brachial plexus MRI abnormalities align with the distribution of neurological deficits in inflammatory neuropathies.
• Brachial plexus MRI findings do not correlate with specific clinical characteristics, treatment response, or disease progression in MMN, LSS, and CIDP.