title: The carpal tunnel: ultrasound display of normal imaging anatomy and pathology.
abstract: Ultrasound successfully displays the normal anatomy and pathology of the median nerve in the carpal tunnel. This article reviews the sonographic characteristics of carpal tunnel anatomy, including the superficially situated median nerve, the contained tendons and vessels, and the boundary-forming fibro-osseous landmarks. It emphasizes ultrasound evaluation of the median nerve and the criteria for diagnosis of compressive neuropathy in carpal tunnel syndrome. The techniques for performing sonography for carpal tunnel syndrome are detailed. Ultrasonic imaging is more comfortable for patients, less time-consuming, and less expensive than MR imaging, and achieves equal accuracy in skilled hands.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 1 Gustave Levy Place, Box 1234, New York, NY 10029, USA. sundar.jayaraman@mssn.edu
authors.forename: Sundar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayaraman
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Naidich
mesh_terms: D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002348:Carpal Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography