Harun Arslan1, Alpaslan Yavuz2, Ferda İlgen3, Abdurrahman Aycan4, Mesut Ozgokce2, Hüseyin Akdeniz2, Abdussamet Batur2. 1. Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, 65100, Van, Turkey. harun.ars75@gmail.com. 2. Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, 65100, Van, Turkey. 3. Department of Neurology, Van Training and Research Hospital, Van, Turkey. 4. Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Faculty, Van Yuzuncu Yil University, Van, Turkey.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to quantify the stiffness of the median nerve (MN) at the carpal tunnel inlet by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and to evaluate whether ARFI can be used in diagnosis and staging of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: Sonographic examinations of 96 wrists in 50 patients were included in the study. The cross-sectional area and stiffness of the MN were quantitatively measured by B-mode ultrasonography (USG) and ARFI. The findings of CTS were assigned to four groups: (I) normal (n = 21), (II) mild (n = 39), (III) moderate (n = 38), and (IV) severe (n = 19). The differences between CTS patients and controls and the differences in electrodiagnostic tests among subgroups were statistically compared. ROC analysis was performed to determine the cut-off values between subgroups. RESULTS: Bilateral CTS was present in 46 patients (92 wrists) and unilateral CTS in four patients. Of the 96 nerves in the 50 symptomatic "idiopathic CTS" patients (48 women, 2 men; mean age 45.9 years, range 23-73 years), 39 (40.4%) were mild, 38 (39.8%) were moderate, and 19 (19.8%) were severely affected. When compared to controls, MN stiffness was significantly higher in the CTS group (P < 0.001); furthermore, it was higher in the severe or extreme severity group than the mild or moderate severity group (P < 0.001). A 3.250 m/s cut-off value on ARFI revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 81, 82, 95.1, 50, and 82%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The MN stiffness measured by ARFI elastography is significantly higher in patients with CTS then in controls. ARFI elastography appears to be a highly efficient imaging modality for the diagnosis and staging of these patients.
OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to quantify the stiffness of the median nerve (MN) at the carpal tunnel inlet by acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) elastography and to evaluate whether ARFI can be used in diagnosis and staging of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). METHODS: Sonographic examinations of 96 wrists in 50 patients were included in the study. The cross-sectional area and stiffness of the MN were quantitatively measured by B-mode ultrasonography (USG) and ARFI. The findings of CTS were assigned to four groups: (I) normal (n = 21), (II) mild (n = 39), (III) moderate (n = 38), and (IV) severe (n = 19). The differences between CTSpatients and controls and the differences in electrodiagnostic tests among subgroups were statistically compared. ROC analysis was performed to determine the cut-off values between subgroups. RESULTS: Bilateral CTS was present in 46 patients (92 wrists) and unilateral CTS in four patients. Of the 96 nerves in the 50 symptomatic "idiopathic CTS" patients (48 women, 2 men; mean age 45.9 years, range 23-73 years), 39 (40.4%) were mild, 38 (39.8%) were moderate, and 19 (19.8%) were severely affected. When compared to controls, MN stiffness was significantly higher in the CTS group (P < 0.001); furthermore, it was higher in the severe or extreme severity group than the mild or moderate severity group (P < 0.001). A 3.250 m/s cut-off value on ARFI revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 81, 82, 95.1, 50, and 82%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The MN stiffness measured by ARFI elastography is significantly higher in patients with CTS then in controls. ARFI elastography appears to be a highly efficient imaging modality for the diagnosis and staging of these patients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Carpal tunnel syndrome; Median nerve; Shear wave elastography
Authors: Yuexiang Wang; Bo Qiang; Xiaoming Zhang; James F Greenleaf; Kai-Nan An; Peter C Amadio; Chunfeng Zhao Journal: J Biomech Date: 2012-09-29 Impact factor: 2.712