MRI Lumbosacral Plexus Lumbosacral plexus MRI is useful in evaluating nontraumatic lumbosacral plexopathy because of its superior soft- tissue contrast and good spatial resolution, providing good definition of intraneural anatomy as well as localizing pathologic lesions in conditions where electrodiagnostic and physical findings are nonspecific [1-4,7,8,61]. The clinical diagnosis of plexopathy can be challenging, and it may be unclear whether neurologic signs and symptoms Plexopathy localize to a single nerve root (radiculopathy) or to the lumbosacral plexus (plexopathy) because of the considerable overlap in these clinical presentations [1]. For this reason, literature evaluating the diagnostic performance of lumbosacral plexus MRI often includes patients who present with radiculopathy as well as plexopathy. Dessouky et al [62], in a retrospective review, analyzed 202 patients who received MRI of lumbosacral plexus for the evaluation of radiculopathy (57%), pelvic pain (28%), or groin pain (15%) and found that 71% of patients had a change in management resulting from MRI findings. Zhang et al [63] in a retrospective review of 137 patients who received MRI lumbosacral plexus with diffusion-weighted neurography for a clinical diagnosis of sciatica found either nerve root compression or abnormal intraneural signal in the nerves in all patients. Chazen et al [56] in a retrospective review of 64 patients with radiculopathy symptoms who underwent lumbosacral plexus MRI and electromyography found abnormal intraneural signal in 45% of lumbosacral plexus MRI examinations and a statistically significant correlation between nerve signal abnormality on MRI and findings of active radiculopathy on electromyography.
Plexopathy. MRI Lumbosacral Plexus Lumbosacral plexus MRI is useful in evaluating nontraumatic lumbosacral plexopathy because of its superior soft- tissue contrast and good spatial resolution, providing good definition of intraneural anatomy as well as localizing pathologic lesions in conditions where electrodiagnostic and physical findings are nonspecific [1-4,7,8,61]. The clinical diagnosis of plexopathy can be challenging, and it may be unclear whether neurologic signs and symptoms Plexopathy localize to a single nerve root (radiculopathy) or to the lumbosacral plexus (plexopathy) because of the considerable overlap in these clinical presentations [1]. For this reason, literature evaluating the diagnostic performance of lumbosacral plexus MRI often includes patients who present with radiculopathy as well as plexopathy. Dessouky et al [62], in a retrospective review, analyzed 202 patients who received MRI of lumbosacral plexus for the evaluation of radiculopathy (57%), pelvic pain (28%), or groin pain (15%) and found that 71% of patients had a change in management resulting from MRI findings. Zhang et al [63] in a retrospective review of 137 patients who received MRI lumbosacral plexus with diffusion-weighted neurography for a clinical diagnosis of sciatica found either nerve root compression or abnormal intraneural signal in the nerves in all patients. Chazen et al [56] in a retrospective review of 64 patients with radiculopathy symptoms who underwent lumbosacral plexus MRI and electromyography found abnormal intraneural signal in 45% of lumbosacral plexus MRI examinations and a statistically significant correlation between nerve signal abnormality on MRI and findings of active radiculopathy on electromyography.