MR imaging of the wrist in carpal tunnel syndrome.

PURPOSE: To determine whether specific parameters measured on MR images correlated to electrophysiological changes in carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective clinical examinations were made of 20 patients with suspected CTS. We performed bilateral electrophysiological examinations of the median nerve and bilateral MR imaging of the wrists.
RESULTS: The electrophysiological examination suggested median nerve entrapment in 18 wrists. These wrists were compared to the remaining 22 electrophysiologically normal wrists. In addition, we compared both wrists in 12 patients with unilateral symptoms of CTS without reference to the electrophysiological findings. We found no difference in specific MR parameters between the 2 groups.
CONCLUSION: Neither symptoms nor electrophysiological findings in CTS were related to specific MR parameters.