Measurement of Median Nerve Cross Sectional Area With Ultrasound and MRI in Idiopathic Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Patients

Objective: In this study we aimed to measure the cross sectional area of the median nerve with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging in three different levels of carpal tunnel and determine the correlation between two modalities. Material and Method: 56 wrists of 36 idiopatic carpal tunnel syndome patients evaluated with ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Median nerve cross sectional area measured at the level of inlet, midtunnel and outlet of the carpal tunnel with two modalities. Results: The highest statistically significant positive linear correlation determined between electromyography and magnetic resonance imaging measurement of media nerve cross sectional area in inlet (p<0,01). There is no sifgnificant siginificant difference found between the measurements median nerve cross sectional area at the level of outlet both ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (p>0,05). Conclusion: Both in ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging median nerve cross-sectional area measurements showed no significant difference at the level of outlet. Positive significant correlation was found between electromyography degrees and cross-sectional area of the median nerve in ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging. Measurement of median nerve cross-sectional area increases according with to the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome. It is possible to determine the anatomical variations in carpal tunnel syndrome patients, without distress to the patient, high-image quality and dynamically with sonography. Therefore, sonography should be the first radiological modality to evaluate the median nerve changes in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome patients.