Anatomical and MR correlative study of the proximal sciatic nerve vasculature.

Objective: The aim of our study is to demonstrate that increased T signal on MRI could be due to intraneural vessels in asymptomatic individuals, and may therefore be a normal finding.

Methods: An initial anatomic cadaveric study was undertaken to gain a better understanding of the vascular supply of the proximal sciatic nerve. Secondly, a retrospective study of MR imaging of patients without sciatic symptoms was performed to assess the prevalence of intraneural vessels, defined as hyperintensity on at least three consecutive slices on both T and gadolinium enhanced T weighted imaging, visible on routine MSK pelvic imaging.