Nerves Around the Shoulder: What the Radiologist Should Know?

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Neurology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Peripheral neuropathies of the shoulder are common.
• Causes include traumatic injury, surgery, infection, tumors, and entrapment syndromes.
• Entrapment syndromes are a frequent cause of shoulder neuropathy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the role of imaging in diagnosing shoulder neuropathies.
• To emphasize the importance of understanding nerve topography and muscle changes in diagnosis.
• To compare the utility of different imaging modalities.

Main Methods:

• Review of imaging techniques for shoulder neuropathies.
• Focus on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) findings.
• Consideration of Ultrasound and Computed Tomography (CT) roles.

Main Results:

• Imaging is essential for detecting underlying causes and assessing nerve damage severity and topography.
• Knowledge of nerve topography and associated muscle morphology/signal changes are key imaging points.
• MRI provides the best visualization of these findings.
• Ultrasound and CT can also aid in diagnosing neuropathy.

Conclusions:

• Imaging is vital for the diagnosis and assessment of shoulder neuropathies.
• MRI is the preferred modality for detailed evaluation.
• Understanding specific nerve anatomy and muscle alterations is critical for accurate diagnosis.