title: Difference in normal values of median nerve cross-sectional area between Dutch and Indian subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ultrasound (US) measurement of the median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) at the wrist is a useful diagnostic test for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). We compared median nerve normal values between samples of Indian and Dutch populations.
  
  
  METHODS
  The median nerve was examined by US at the wrist in 100 healthy volunteers in India and 137 volunteers in The Netherlands using the same protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median nerve CSA at the wrist (7.0 ± 1.1 mm(2)) in the Indian cohort was lower in comparison to the Dutch cohort (8.3 ± 1.9 mm(2) ; P < 0.05). This difference was still present after controlling for age, height, and weight (P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSA normal values for the median nerve were different between the examined population samples even after correcting for age, height, and weight. This enforces the idea that laboratories around the world should obtain their own normative data.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, St. Elisabeth Hospital, P.O. Box 90151, 5000 LC, Tilburg, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Ellen Walhout-van
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Burg
authors.forename: Lokesh
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bathala
authors.forename: Leo H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Visser
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; D044466:Asian People; D001827:Body Height; D001835:Body Weight; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005542:Forearm / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008475:Median Nerve / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D012016:Reference Values; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D014463:Ultrasonography; D044465:White People; D014953:Wrist / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cross-sectional area; median nerve; normative data; peripheral nerve; sonography; ultrasound