Role of ultrasound versus magnetic resonance imaging in evaluation of non-osseous disorders causing wrist pain

Background Wrist pain is a challenge, and imaging plays an important role in the evaluation of wrist pain. Purpose Assessment of the role of ultrasonography (USG) versus magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the diagnosis and evaluation of wrist pain Results Out of 50 patients, 35 males (70%) and 15 females (30%) (age range 12-62 years; mean = 31.7 years) were included in the study. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI and USG for tendinopathy were 95%, 100%, and 97.5% and 95%, 100%, and 97.5% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI and USG for TFCC tear were 75%, 100%, and 87.5% and 0%, 50%, and 50% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI and USG for simple ganglion were 100%, 100%, and 100% and 75%, 100%, and 87.5% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI and USG for solid mass were 100%, 100%, and 100% and 100%, 100%, and 100% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI and USG for foreign body were 50%, 100%, and 75% and 100%, 100%, and 100% respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of MRI and USG for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) were 77.8%, 100%, and 88.9% and 88.9%, 100%, and 94.4% respectively. Overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of USG Vs MRI were 79.2%, 96.1%, 95.0%, 83.3%, and 88.0% and 89.8%, 98.0%, 97.8%, 90.9%, and 94.0% respectively. Conclusion USG is near equal to MRI in the assessment of tendon abnormalities and better than MRI in the diagnosis of CTS and foreign body, but MRI is better than USG in the assessment of TFCC and in the assessment of swelling (simple ganglion) and characterization of masses.