The role of magnetic resonance imaging in the management of peripheral nerve tumours.

Fourteen cases of peripheral nerve tumour which had been examined by MRI were reviewed. T1-weighted images showed the tumours to be of intermediate signal and T2-weighted images showed a high signal with some heterogeneity. These appearances are not specific to peripheral nerve tumours, although the diagnosis may be suggested if the lesion arises from a major nerve trunk. The association with a nerve trunk may be defined by MRI, thus assisting with surgical planning. Neurilemmomas, neurofibromas and malignant nerve sheath tumours could not be differentiated with certainty using MR alone. The MR features of lipofibromatous hamartoma are reported.