Diagnosis of compressive and entrapment neuropathies of the upper extremity: value of MR imaging.

Compressive and entrapment neuropathies (CENs) are relatively common clinical syndromes characterized by neurologic manifestations caused by mechanical or dynamic compression of peripheral nerves. Radiologists are often required to evaluate CENs primarily to rule out soft-tissue lesions as a potential cause of the syndrome. MR imaging has become the best technique for accurate delineation of soft-tissue lesions, and it is ideally suited for the assessment of CEN. Although many CENs of the upper extremity have been described in the clinical literature, only a few of them have received attention in radiologic publications. This review focuses on the most common CENs involving the upper extremity, with special emphasis on the MR manifestations.