title: MRI of the intrinsic muscles of the hand: spectrum of imaging findings and clinical correlation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of our study was to describe the spectrum of intrinsic hand muscle abnormalities on MRI in patients with clinically evident abnormalities of the intrinsic hand muscles and to correlate clinical and radiologic findings.
  
  
  METHODS
  MRI of 21 hands was performed in 19 patients with clinically evident or suspected intrinsic hand muscle abnormalities. All MRI was performed on a 1.5-T scanner using transaxial T1-weighted, T2-weighted, or STIR as well as contrast-enhanced T1-weighted sequences. Two observers reviewed all MR images retrospectively in a blinded fashion with regard to the exact anatomic location of the muscle abnormality, signal abnormalities, muscle atrophy, and the cause. Kappa statistics were used to calculate interobserver variability. MRI findings were compared with clinical findings using Spearman's rank test. A panel of experts assessed the impact of MRI on the diagnostic workup.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On the basis of MRI findings, abnormalities (either MR signal abnormality or atrophy) of both the lumbrical and interosseus muscles were noted in 10 (48%) of 21 hands, of the thenar muscles in eight (38%) of 21 hands, and of the hypothenar muscles in 12 (57%) of 21 hands. The correlation between clinical and MRI findings was moderate to strong for the interosseus, thenar, and hypothenar muscles (0.43-0.84). MRI was judged to be useful for establishing the final diagnosis in 17 (81%) of 21 hands.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MRI of the hands is useful and correlates well with clinical findings in patients with intrinsic hand muscle abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Diagnostic Radiology, Department of Medical Radiology, University Hospital Zurich, Raemistrasse 100, Zurich CH-8091, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gustav
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Andreisek
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kilgus
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burg
authors.forename: Nadja
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Saupe
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Crook
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.forename: Borut
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marincek
authors.forename: Dominik
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weishaupt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000294:innervation; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies