title: Diffusion tensor imaging in carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the efficacy of diffusion tensor imaging in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and to obtain a quantitative parameter that may contribute to the diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  The median nerves in 57 wrists of 38 patients diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome and 30 wrists of 24 normal subjects were prospectively evaluated with a 3T Philips scanner, using standard 8-channel SENSE head coil. Diffusion tensor imaging was performed using spin echo-echo planar imaging. For anatomical reference, a T1-weighted sequence was acquired. Fractional anisotropy and apparent diffusion coefficient measurements were done focally at the carpal tunnel level and from whole median nerve.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In carpal tunnel syndrome patients, both focal carpal tunnel and whole nerve measurements demonstrated statistically significantly lower fractional anisotropy values than normal subjects (P < 0.001). No statistically significant difference was observed in apparent diffusion coefficient measurements. The cut-off value obtained by receiver operator characteristics analysis was 0.554 for focal carpal tunnel fractional anisotropy (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 80%) and 0.660 for whole nerve fractional anisotropy (sensitivity, 82%; specificity, 80%) measurement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diffusion tensor imaging may contribute to the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome on the basis of fractional anisotropy measurements.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Yeditepe University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey. ntasdelen@yeditepe.edu.tr
authors.forename: Neslihan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taşdelen
authors.forename: Bengi
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gürses
authors.forename: Özgür
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Kiliçkesmez
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Firat
authors.forename: Geysu
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karlikaya
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tercan
authors.forename: Aziz Müfit
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Uluğ
authors.forename: Ahmet Nevzat
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Gürmen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies