Review of neoplastic brachial plexopathy at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital, Ireland

e20681 Background: Neoplastic brachial plexopathy (NBP) may occur with benign or malignant neoplasms. Symptomatic NBP is estimated to occur in about 0.4% of all patients with cancer. Despite therapy NBP is often irreversible. The aim of this review was to determine the incidence of brachial plexopathy occurring in patients with cancer at our centre. Methods: A retrospective review was done of the MRIs (magnetic resonance images) of brachial plexus performed at the Mater Misericordiae University Hospital over a 5 year period from 1st January 2004 to 31st December 2008. Results: A total of 66 MRIs of brachial plexus were performed during this period. 29 were performed for assessment of suspected traumatic injuries to the brachial plexus. 18 MRIs were performed in patients with a known cancer diagnosis, 1 was performed in a patient with a benign thymoma, 1 with a neurofibroma and the remaining 17 MRIs were ordered for other conditions. In total, 13 MRIs were positive for brachial plexopathy (7 traumatic, 5 d...