Abstract

Brachial plexopathy is a constellation of symptoms consisting of neurogenic pain and associated weakness that radiates from the shoulder into the supraclavicular region and upper extremity. There are many causes of brachial plexopathy, but some of the more common ones include compression of the plexus by cervical ribs or abnormal muscles (e.g., thoracic outlet syndrome), invasion of the plexus by tumor (e.g., Pancoast's tumor syndrome), direct trauma to the plexus (e.g., stretch injuries and avulsions), inflammatory causes (e.g., Parsonage–Turner syndrome and herpes zoster), and postradiation plexopathy. Patients suffering from brachial plexopathy complain of pain radiating to the supraclavicular region and upper extremity. The pain is neuritic in character and may take on a deep, boring quality as the plexus is invaded by tumor. Movement of the neck and shoulder exacerbates the pain, so patients often try to avoid such movement. Frozen shoulder often results and may confuse the diagnosis. If thoracic outlet syndrome is suspected, the Adson test may be performed.

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