Abstract
Most patients with symptoms related to the carpal tunnel have idiopathic median nerve
compression. Imaging has little role in the care of most cases because steroid injection,
therapeutic ultrasound, and surgery have established roles. However, cases with atypical
presentation, mass lesions, synovitis, or failed carpal tunnel surgery will benefit
from imaging. In this article we review the anatomy of the carpal tunnel, the diseases
affecting this region, and then discuss the use of conventional radiographs, computed
tomography, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), outlining the strengths
and weaknesses of each method while listing the signs of disease. We conclude that
both ultrasound examination and MRI are powerful and often complementary techniques.
Keywords
carpal tunnel - MRI - ultrasound - median nerve