Cervical plexus lesions in clinical practice

Cervical plexus lesions are relatively rare and may be overlooked by clinical neurologists. Several new clinical syndromes centered upon this region have been published in recent years. Herein we present an overview of possible etiologies of cervical plexus lesions, their diagnosis and treatment. Relatively the most common condition is occipital neuralgia, which is largely considered idiopathic. We report considerable auricular neuralgia and red ear syndrome, and neuralgias of Jacobson's and Arnold's nerves (branches of the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves). We deal also with phrenic nerve lesion, which is usually unilateral and asymptomatic. Nevertheless, bilateral diaphragmatic palsy may result in disabling dyspnea requiring mechanical ventilation.