title: Comparison of high-resolution sonography and electrophysiology in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The diagnostic accuracy of high-resolution ultrasonography (HRUS) in comparison to electro-diagnostic testing (EDX) in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) is debatable.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of HRUS with EDX in patients with various grades of CTS and CTS associated with peripheral neuropathy (CTS + PNP).
  
  
  METHODS
  A prospective cohort of 57 patients with possible CTS was studied along with matched controls. The cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve at the inlet of carpal tunnel was assessed by a sonologist blinded to the clinical and EDX data. Palm wrist distal sensory latency difference (PWDSLD), second lumbrical-interosseus distal motor latency difference (2LIDMLD) and CSA were compared in patients with different grades of severity of CTS and CTS+PNP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total 92 hands of 57 patients met the clinical criteria for CTS. Mean CSA at the inlet of carpal tunnel was 0.11 ± 0.0275 cm(2). It had the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive values of 76.43%, 72.72%, 89.47% and 68%, respectively (P < 0.0001). Overall, HRUS had good correlation with PWDSLD and 2LIDMLD electro-diagnostic studies in all grades of CTS and CTS + PNP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HRUS can be used as a complementary screening tool to EDX. However, EDX has been found to be more sensitive and specific in mild CTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, and Radiology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Meena Angamuthu
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Kanikannan
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, and Radiology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Demudu Babu
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Boddu
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, and Radiology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.lastname: Umamahesh
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, and Radiology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Sailaja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sarva
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, and Radiology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Padmaja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Durga
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, and Radiology, Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, Punjagutta, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Rupam
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borgohain
keywords: Carpal tunnel syndrome; electro-diagnostic test; high-resolution sonography