MAGNETIC-RESONANCE MYELOGRAPHY IN BRACHIAL-PLEXUS INJURY

We used magnetic resonance (MR) myelography in ten patients with injur ies to the brachial plexus and compared the findings with those obtain ed by conventional myelography and postmyelographic CT (CTM). In the p resence of complete nerve-root avulsion (seven cases), a post-traumati c meningocele was detected by MP myelography. In injuries to the upper roots (three cases) MR myelography showed abnormal findings with a hi gh signal intensity in the nerve root, obliteration of the damaged ner ve root, or enlargement and obliteration of the root sleeve, No pseudo meningoceles were detected in these upper-root injuries by MR myelogra phy and CTM. The overall accuracy of detection of damaged nerve roots or root sleeves eras better with MR myelography than with conventional myelography and was similar to that of CTM. MR myelography is non-inv asive, relatively quick, requires no contrast medium, provides imaging in multiple projections, and is comparable in diagnostic ability to t he more invasive, time-consuming techniques of conventional myelograph y and CTM.