title: Doppler sonography for the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome: a critical review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Doppler sonography may detect increased intraneural blood flow of the median nerve in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The purpose of this review is to critically evaluate the literature about the diagnostic value of increased intraneural flow detected by sonography in CTS Methods: Systematic review of studies published between 1985 and 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 7 studies we found had considerable differences in study design and had methodological shortcomings. Doppler sonography had a median sensitivity of 72% (range, 41-95%) and a median specificity of 88% (range, 71-100%). Most studies could not compare the diagnostic value of sonography to that of electrophysiological studies, because the latter were often used as a reference test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased intraneural flow detected by Doppler sonography may be a promising diagnostic test for CTS, but further studies are needed before it can be implemented in clinical practice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Atrium Medical Centre, P.O. Box 4446, Heerlen 6401 CX, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Geraldine A K B
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Vanderschueren
authors.forename: Vera E W H
authors.initials: VE
authors.lastname: Meys
authors.forename: Roy
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Beekman
mesh_terms: D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D009431:Neural Conduction / Q000502:physiology; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Doppler sonography; carpal tunnel syndrome; diagnosis; nerve conduction studies; peripheral nervous system; ultrasound