Background: MRI is an important non-invasive imaging modality which has a very high sensitivity due to its excellent soft tissue resolution. The objective of the study is to evaluate the traumatic and non-traumatic causes of brachial plexus pathologies of the upper limb like involvement of the roots, trunks, divisions, cords by pancoast tumour, trauma, radiation plexitis, inflammatory plexitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, metastatic infiltration, lymphoma, nerve sheath tumour exiting nerve root compression and iatrogenic injury, to study the various MRI appearances of the above mentioned causes, to evaluate the extent of the cause and its relationship to adjacent structures, to compare CT findings with pathological findings where ever possible, to study the limitations if any, in the MRI in evaluation of radiating upper limb pain.

Aims & Objectives: To evaluate the traumatic and non-traumatic causes of brachial plexus pathologies of the upper limb like compression of the roots, trunks, divisions, cords, pancoast tumour, trauma, radiation plexitis, inflammatory plexitis, thoracic outlet syndrome, metastatic infiltration, lymphoma, nerve sheath tumour and iatrogenic injury.

1. To study the various MRI appearances of the above-mentioned causes.
2. To evaluate the extent of the cause and its relationship to adjacent structures.
3. To compare CT findings with pathological findings where ever possible.
4. To study the limitations if any, in the MRI in evaluation of radiating upper limb pain.

Methodology: The study included of 30 patients referred to department of radiodiagnosis Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, UP with traumatic and non-traumatic pathologies of brachial plexus over a period of 18 months. All patients were subjected to MRI using 1.5T GE MRI machine.

Results: 30 patients who were clinically suspected of brachial plexus pathology were subjected to MRI imaging. Among these 30 patients, in general, patients in the middle age group constituted 62% of the total study group, with an overall slight male predominance 77%. Most common clinical presentation was unilateral upper limb weakness 66%.    

Conclusion: MRI has become increasingly important in the evaluation of brachial plexus pathology, owing to the improved soft tissue resolution with MRI not only can the nerve roots of the brachial plexus be visualized but also the trunks, divisions, cords and also characteristics such as course, caliber, signal intensity, fascicular pattern and size can be better evaluated. Additionally improved size tissue differentiation allows for improved detection of intrinsic and extrinsic pathology. MRI also has the additional benefit for multiplanar imaging.