J Korean Soc Radiol.  2011 Jun;64(6):525-529. 10.3348/jksr.2011.64.6.525.

MR Imaging of Lumbar Root Avulsion: Report of Two Case Studies

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Radiology, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Bucheon, Gyunggi-do, Korea. mj4907@schmc.ac.kr
  • 2Department of Neurosurgery, Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Bucheon, Gyunggi-do, Korea.

Abstract

Lumbosacral nerve root avulsion is a rare disease entity that is usually associated with a fracture of the pelvic bone. We report on two cases to share our multimodal images and to introduce new magnetic resonance (MR) imaging findings. In one case (a pediatric patient), neither a history of pelvic ring fracture, nor a history of hip dislocation with characteristic MR myelography findings was evident. In the other case, secondary MR findings associated with lumbosacral nerve root avulsion were found that had not been introduced previously.


MeSH Terms

Hip Dislocation
Lumbosacral Plexus
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy
Myelography
Pelvic Bones
Radiculopathy
Rare Diseases

Figure

  • Fig. 1 Case study of a 7-year-old boy. Right parasagittal (A) T2-weighted images (TR/TE, 4000/ 125) show extending lobulating lesions (arrows) on the right L1-S1 neural foramina with bright signal intensity. 3D Thin Slab MR myelogram (TR/TE, 6000/198) with coronal view (B) show mushroom shaped pseudomeningoceles in the neural foramina of L1-S1, right.

  • Fig. 2 Case study of a 60-year-old woman. A-C Axial T2-weighted image (TR/TE, 4000/120) shows nerve root disruption (arrows) and the presence of pseudomeningoceles (arrowheads) at levels L1 and L2. D. MR coronal T1-weighted image (TR/TE, 803/12) shows atrophy of the psoas major muscle that was observed in the right side of the L1-S1 vertebral body (arrow) and abdominal wall bulging containing large bowel loops with thinning of right abdominal external and internal oblique muscles (arrowhead).


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