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MRI bullseye sign: An indicator of peripheral nerve constriction in parsonage‐turner syndrome
Author(s) -
Sneag Darryl B.,
Saltzman Eliana B.,
Meister David W.,
Feinberg Joseph H.,
Lee Steve K.,
Wolfe Scott W.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
muscle and nerve
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.025
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1097-4598
pISSN - 0148-639X
DOI - 10.1002/mus.25480
Subject(s) - medicine , peripheral , constriction , radial nerve , median nerve , hyperintensity , anatomy , magnetic resonance imaging , surgery , radiology
The role of MRI in identifying hourglass constrictions (HGCs) of nerves in Parsonage‐Turner syndrome (PTS) is largely unknown. Methods Six patients with PTS and absent or minimal recovery underwent MRI. Surgical exploration was performed at identified pathologic sites. Results The time between symptom onset and surgery was 12.4 ± 6.9 months; the time between MRI and surgery was 1.3 ± 0.6 months. Involved nerves included suprascapular, axillary, radial, and median nerve anterior interosseous and pronator teres fascicles. Twenty‐three constriction sites in 10 nerves were identified on MRI. A “bullseye sign” of the nerve, identified immediately proximal to 21 of 23 sites, manifested as peripheral signal hyperintensity and central hypointensity orthogonal to the long axis of the nerve. All constrictions were confirmed operatively. Conclusions In PTS, a bullseye sign on MRI can accurately localize HGCs, a previously unreported finding. Causes of HGCs and the bullseye sign are unknown. Muscle Nerve 56 : 99–106, 2017.