MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF SUPRASCAPULAR NERVE PALSY

In magnetic resonance imaging of peripheral nerve palsy, changes of si gnal intensity are often found in paralyzed muscles. The purpose of th is report is to clarify the relation between magnetic resonance imagin g findings and clinical examination in suprascapular nerve palsy. The subjects were 12 patients with suprascapular nerve palsy who underwent magnetic resonance imaging examinations. In 9 of 12 cases ganglion cy sts were found at the spinoglenoid notches. On T1-weighted images the signal intensify of infraspinatus muscle was high in four cases but no rmal in the supraspinatus muscle in all cases. On T2-weighted images t he signal intensity of infraspinatus muscle was high in six cases, and that for supraspinatus muscle was high in one case. In two cases the high intensity of palsied muscles become normal after the palsy recove red. Magnetic resonance imaging is a useful examination of peripheral nerve palsy not only for the detection of ganglion cysts but also for assessing the stage of paralysis.