magnetic resonance neurography

Introduction

magnetic resonance imaging technique that can detect peripheral nerve abnormalities

Indications

• evaluation of foot drop

Clinical significance

• high-resolution images of peripheral nerves, as well as associated intraneural & extraneural lesions
• shows fascicular organization of peripheral nerves, thus rendering nerves distinguishable from other tissue

Procedure

• standard 1.5 Tesla MRI with special phased-array imaging surface coils
• image data are acquired simultaneously from multiple coils
• image data from each coil in the array are combined to form a composite image with an improved signal-to-noise ratio
• images can be processed to allow stacking of axial sections & slicing of data in another plane of section
  • helpful in mapping longitudinal extent of nerve involvement

More general terms

• magnetic resonance neuroimaging (brain & brainstem)

Additional terms

• CNS magnetic resonance imaging