HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Aquino, S. L. Articles by Hayman, L. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Aquino, S. L. Articles by Hayman, L. A. Related Collections Chest Radiology

Nerves of the Thorax: Atlas of Normal and Pathologic Findings¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass (S.L.A.); the Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology (G.R.D.), Radiology (L.A.H.), and Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences (L.A.H.) and the Frensley Center for Imaging Research (L.A.H.), Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030-3498. Recipient of a Certificate of Merit award for an education exhibit at the 2000 RSNA scientific assembly. Received March 15, 2001; revision requested April 11 and received May 15; accepted May 15. Address correspondence to L.A.H. (e-mail: lhayman@bcm.tmc.edu).

An anatomic and imaging atlas was created to provide detailed information about the six pairs of thoracic nerves (phrenic nerves, vagus nerves, recurrent laryngeal nerves, sympathetic trunks, costal nerves, long thoracic nerves). Serial axial computed tomographic (CT) scans of the normal thorax were obtained and included in the atlas, along with drawings showing the proper location of each nerve relative to adjacent anatomic structures. CT scans obtained in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients with various thoracic diseases were paired with appropriate drawings and normal CT scans in the atlas. This format was designed to help determine the presence and severity of related disease, including injury from surgery, trauma, or penetrating injury, metastatic disease involvement, and, rarely, primary tumor. Although the nerves of the thorax are rarely identified at cross-sectional imaging, their location can be inferred by localizing easily identified anatomic landmarks. Familiarity with the functional anatomy and clinical significance of the nerves of the thorax is important for the correct interpretation of thoracic images.

Index Terms: Nerves, 60.92 • Nerves, CT, 60.1211 • Nerves, diseases • Thorax, anatomy, 60.92 • Thorax, CT, 60.1211

This article has been cited by other articles:

				R. H. Thornton, S. B. Solomon, D. E. Dupuy, and M. S. Bains Phrenic Nerve Injury Resulting from Percutaneous Ablation of Lung Malignancy Am. J. Roentgenol., August 1, 2008; 191(2): 565 - 568. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. S. Broderick, G. N. Brooks, and J. E. Kuhlman Anatomic Pitfalls of the Heart and Pericardium RadioGraphics, March 1, 2005; 25(2): 441 - 453. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]