High-resolution sonography detects extraforaminal nerve pathology in patients initially diagnosed with cervical disc disease: A case series

Abstract

In patients presenting with neck and upper limb complaints, MRI changes suggestive of cervical disc disease do not exclude concomitant extraforaminal pathology, as shown in the series of three cases presented here. High-resolution ultrasound of the brachial plexus and peripheral nerves may be useful in identifying an extraforaminal pathology when (1) symptoms and signs are disproportionate to MRI findings of cervical disc disease; (2) there is obvious discordance between MRI and nerve conduction findings; (3) an entrapment neuropathy is suspected but the site of nerve lesion is unidentifiable on the basis of available investigations and clinical findings. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.