Ahmad Reza Ghasemi Esfe MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Seyed Mehran Vaziri Bozorg MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Maryam Rahmani MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

to assess the accuracy of Color Doppler ultrasonography in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome using a quantitative method.

A total of 100 wrists with a clinical suspicion of carpal tunnel syndrome and 80 wrists with out any signs and symptoms of CTS were examined with high-resolution sonography using a 7–15-MHz linear array transducer. The presence of nerve hypervascularization was evaluated with color Doppler sonography. Image processing was done for images obtaining from the median nerve in the wrist and the sum of pixels of hyper vascular area compared within two groups statically. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for quantitative hypervascularity as a sonographic feature in comparison with nerve conduction studies in case group, as the standard of reference.

The mean median nerve cross-sectional area was 0.14 cm2 in patients with confirmed CTS by nerve conduction studies and 0.10 cm2 in controls. Analysis showed that nerve hypervascularization was significantly higher in patients diagnosed with CTS in comparison with normal subjects (95% confidence interval; p < 0.001). Significant differences also were noted between severity of CTS according to nerve conduction studies (mild-moderate, severe) and the number (pixels) of hypervascularization within median nerve area in the patient's wrist (p < 0.001).

Quantitative Color Doppler Sonography is an accurate method for diagnosis and characterizing severity of median nerve involvement in patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome.  

EMG/NCV could be replaced by Color Doppler Sonography in diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome with acceptable accuracy and less invasiveness.

Ghasemi Esfe, A, Vaziri Bozorg, S, Rahmani, M, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Evaluated by Color Doppler Sonography: Quantitative Image Processing  .  Radiological Society of North America 2009 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 29 - December 4, 2009 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2009/8003445.html