title: Pitfalls in wrist and hand ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this article is to review a number of diagnostic pitfalls related to ultrasound evaluation of the hand and wrist. Such pitfalls relate to evaluation of ten-dons (extensor retinaculum, multiple tendon fascicles, tendon subluxation), inflammatory arthritis (incomplete evaluation, misinterpretation of erosions, failure to evaluate for enthesitis), carpal tunnel syndrome (inaccurate measurements, postoperative assessment), ulnar collateral ligament of the thumb (misinterpretation of the adductor aponeurosis and displaced tear), wrist ganglion cysts (incomplete evaluation and misdiagnosis), and muscle variants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although ultrasound has been shown to be an effective imaging method for assessment of many pathologic conditions of the wrist, knowledge of potential pitfalls is essential to avoid misdiagnosis and achieve high diagnostic accuracy.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Radiology, McMaster University, Hamilton General Hospital, Hamilton, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Mary M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Chiavaras
authors.forename: Jon A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jacobson
authors.forename: Corrie M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Yablon
authors.forename: Monica Kalume
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Brigido
authors.forename: Gandikota
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Girish
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006226:Hand Deformities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D014953:Wrist / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014954:Wrist Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: anatomic variants; anatomy; wrist ultrasound