A patient with unilateral, painless, chronic progressive upper limb sensorimotor deficit showed electrophysiological evidence of a focal demyelinating neuropathy with almost complete conduction block across the brachial plexus. Magnetic resonance imaging disclosed marked brachial plexus hypertrophy. Intravenous immunoglobulin led to fast and complete recovery, maintained by intermittent perfusions. Hypertrophic brachial plexus neuropathy can be a presentation of focal chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy. Objective and quantitative assessment of hand function is useful to evaluate treatment results and to optimize treatment regimens.
Van den Bergh, P. Y. K., Thonnard, J.-L., Duprez, T., & Laterre, E.-C. (2000). Chronic demyelinating hypertrophic brachial plexus neuropathy. Muscle & Nerve, 23(2), 283-288. https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-4598(200002)23:2<283::AID-MUS23>3.0.CO;2-Q (Original work published 2000)