Clinical, electrophysiological and magnetic resonance imaging findings in carpal tunnel syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To assess magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and to compare them with electrophysiological findings.


METHODS
Routine motor and sensory nerve conduction examinations and needle EMG were performed in 42 hands of 22 patients, who were clinically diagnosed as having CTS in at least one wrist.


RESULTS
Of 29 wrists with clinically and electrophysiologically confirmed CTS, MRI could detect abnormality in 18 wrists (62%). Median nerve was found to be abnormal in MRI in 1 of 2 wrists with suspected clinical symptoms and proven CTS by electrophysiological examination. MRI was abnormal in 1 of 4 wrists with normal clinical and electrophysiological examination. MRI was abnormal in 46, 7% of wrists with mild CTS, in 61.6% of moderate CTS and in 100% of severe CTS. Volar bulging of the flexor retinaculum was detected in a single wrist with severe CTS. Enlargement of median nerve was observed in 3 of 5 severe CTS.


CONCLUSIONS
MRI could be useful in the diagnosis of unproven cases in CTS. It also provides anatomical information that correlate well with electrophysiological findings in regard of the severity of median nerve compression.
Musluoğlu
L
L
Department of Neurology, Sisli Etfal Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
Celik
M
M
Tabak
H
H
Forta
H
H
D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004576:Electromyography; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009046:Motor Neurons / Q000502:physiology; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D011984:Sensory Receptor Cells / Q000502:physiology; D014459:Ulnar Nerve / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology