MR demonstration of anomalous muscles about the volar aspect of the wrist and forearm

Magnetic resonance (MR) examination of 42 normal wrists was performed for evaluation of anomalous musculature. A total of 23 muscle variations were found. An accessory abductor digiti minimi was found in 10 wrists (24%), an absent palmaris longus was found in seven wrists (16%), a muscular palmaris longus tendon was found in three wrists (7%), a muscular flexor digitorum superficialis was found in two wrists (5%), and an aberrant lumbrical muscle originating from within the carpal tunnel was found in one wrist (2.4%). Such muscle variations can be distinguished by MR from other mass lesions at the wrist and a knowledge of their frequency, appearance, and location can be of help in this regard.