Isolated Axillary Nerve Injury Diagnosed by Magnetic Resonance Imaging - Case Report -

J Korean Assoc EMG Electrodiagn Med 2009;11(2):136-140.
Published online December 31, 2009.

Abstract

Nontraumatic isolated axillary nerve injury which is known as quadrilateral space syndrome is very rare but usually not difficult to diagnose by electrophysiologic study. Although electrophysiologic study has a key role in the diagnosis of focal peripheral neuropathy, MRI has recently been proposed as a supplementary tool for its diagnosis by detecting the atrophy and signal change of the innervated muscles. We report a 46 year old male with left shoulder pain was diagnosed as left isolated axillary nerve injury by the MRI findings of isolated muscle atrophy and altered signal intensity of teres minor muscle in shoulder MRI after misdiagnosed as no abnormal condition by initial electrodiagnostic examination.

Key Words: Isolated axillary nerve injury, Quadrilateral space syndrome, Magnetic resonance imaging, Teres minor muscle