• Takeshi Yoshida, Takeshi Sueyoshi, Shugo Suwazono, and Masahito Suehara.
• Department of Neurology, National Hospital Organization, Okinawa National Hospital, Ganeko 3-20-14, Ginowan city, Okinawa, Japan.
• Muscle Nerve. 2015 Sep 1; 52 (3): 392-6.

IntroductionThere have been no reports of the use of 3-Tesla magnetic resonance neurography (3T MRN) to characterize cervical radiculopathy. In particular, there are no reports of MRN of brachial plexus involvement in patients with cervical radiculopathy.MethodsWe reviewed retrospectively 12 consecutive patients with cervical radiculopathy who underwent 3T MRN.ResultsThe median age was 54.5 years. Eleven of 12 patients were men. The distribution of nerve-root signal abnormality was correlated with intervertebral foraminal stenosis and the presence of muscles that exhibited weakness and/or signs of denervation on electromyography. MRN abnormalities were found to extend into the distal part of the brachial plexus in 10 patients.ConclusionThis study demonstrates that MRN is potentially useful for diagnosis in patients with suspected cervical radiculopathy. Moreover, the finding of brachial plexus involvement on MRN may indicate a possible pathophysiological relationship between cervical radiculopathy and brachial plexopathy.© 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

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