Pictorial essay: Ultrasound of tumours and tumour-like lesions of peripheral nerves

High-resolution ultrasound is an excellent diagnostic modality for visualising peripheral nerves and differentiate tumours of the peripheral nerve. With high-frequency transducers (5-15 MHz), peripheral nerves can be visualised, the hypoechoic nerve fascicles, the surrounding tissue and tumourous lesions including the relation to their nerve of origin can be evaluated. By using colour Doppler sonography (CDS), it is possible to detect and assess vascularisation of tumours of the nerve. We present sonographic features of common and uncommon benign and malignant tumours of the peripheral nerve.