Animation: Distal Femoral Branch Tumor Seen in Survey Image.

The image at left is from a 28-year-old man who developed hand pain and numbness. Because of the area of the hand that was affected, his doctors assumed that he had an entrapment of the ulnar nerve at the elbow and proceeded to do an elaborate surgery on the nerve. Only when the surgery failed completely to affect the problem did they consider imaging of the region to see what the cause was.

In the past, doctors have always imaged an area before doing surgery unless the problem involved nerves. Now that MR Neurography is available and effective, it is important for patients and doctors to understand that imaging should be employed for nerve problems just like other medical problems treated by surgery.

In this case, the imaging revealed a nerve tumor about 1.5 centimeters in diameter that was easily removed solving the problem. He suffered no harm from his unnecessary nerve release surgery. Operating before imaging is no longer appropriate in the management of nerve conditions.

Imaging revealed a 1.3 centimeter mass within the ulnar nerve in the upper arm. The tumor spreads the fibers of the nerve.

MR Neurography was invented and developed by Dr. Aaron Filler of Neurological Injury Specialists. Imaging is an essential part of diagnostic evaluations at NIS.

There are many diagnoses and treatments of nerve tumors. Please click on any of the links below to learn more about individualized cases from the files of Dr. Filler.