Parsonage-Turner syndrome is also known as acute brachial neuropathy and acute brachial radiculitis. Other names used are Parsonage-Aldren-Turner syndrome, neuralgic

Neuralgia

Neuralgia is pain in one or more nerves that occurs without stimulation of pain receptor cells. Neuralgia pain is produced by a change in neurological structure or function rather than by the excitation of pain receptors that causes nociceptive pain. Neuralgia falls into two categories: central...

 amyotrophy

Amyotrophy

Amyotrophy is progressive wasting of muscle tissues. Muscle pain is also a symptom. It can occur in middle age males with type 2 diabetes. It also occurs with Motor Neuron Disease.-See also:* Diabetic amyotrophy* Monomelic amyotrophy...

, brachial neuritis, brachial plexus neuropathy, or brachial plexitis.

The idiopathic

Idiopathic

Idiopathic is an adjective used primarily in medicine meaning arising spontaneously or from an obscure or unknown cause. From Greek ἴδιος, idios + πάθος, pathos , it means approximately "a disease of its own kind". It is technically a term from nosology, the classification of disease...

 syndrome refers to a rare set of symptoms resulting from inflammation of unknown etiology

Etiology

Etiology is the study of causation, or origination. The word is derived from the Greek , aitiologia, "giving a reason for" ....

 of the brachial plexus

Brachial plexus

The brachial plexus is a network of nerve fibers, running from the spine, formed by the ventral rami of the lower four cervical and first thoracic nerve roots...

. (The brachial plexus is a complex network of nerves through which impulses reach the arms, shoulders and chest.)

Presentation

This syndrome can begin with severe shoulder or arm pain followed by weakness and numbness. Those who suffer from Parsonage-Turner experience acute, sudden-onset pain radiating from the shoulder to the upper arm. Affected muscles become weak and atrophied, and in advanced cases, paralyzed.

MRI may assist in diagnosis.

Prognosis

Despite its wasting and at times long-lasting effects, most cases resolve themselves and recovery is usually good in 18-24 months.

External links

• http://www.answers.com/topic/parsonage-turner-syndrome
• http://www.wheelessonline.com/ortho/parsonage_turner_syndrome