Author/Authors :
Uğur, T Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Demirpolat, G Balıkesir Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Radyoloji Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Tuncel, D Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - Nöroloji Anabilim Dalı, Turkey , Özkaya, M Kahramanmaraş Sütçü İmam Üniversitesi - Tıp Fakültesi - İç Hastalıkları Anabilim Dalı, Turkey
Abstract :
Aim: Our objective was to evaluate the patients with thyroid dysfunction for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) with ultrasonography (US) and electrophysiologic tests and to investigate the prevalance of CTS in these patients.Materials and Methods: Seventy eight wrists in 40 patients with thyroid dysfunction (23 hypothyroid, 17 hyperthyroid) underwent US and electrodiagnostic tests. Fourty one wrists in 21 healthy volunteers constituted the control group. The echogenicity of the median nerve was evaluated and the cross-sectional area was measured at the level of distal radius (DRL) and the proximal carpal (os pisiforme) bones (PCL). A median nerve cross-sectional area over 10mm² was accepted as compatible with CTS. The prevalance of CTS was calculated.Results: None of the controls were diagnosed with CTS. Eight wrists in 6 patients with thyroid dysfunction were diagnosed with CTS according to the cross-sectional area measured at DRL or PCL with US. The cross-sectional area of the median nerve at DRL on the right and left sides were 11.00 (± 1.82) mm² and 9.75 (± 0.96) mm² respectively. It was 13.00 (± 2.45) mm² and 12.25 (± 2.63) mm² at PCL. The median nerve was more homogenous and hypoechogenic in all patients with CTS. The prevalence of CTS was 21.7 % and 17.3 % with US and electrophysological tests respectively among hypothyroid patients and 5.9 % among hyperthyroid patients.Conclusion: Decreased echogenicity of the median nerve and higher cross sectional area can be detected with US in patients with CTS. Hypothyrodism is a prominent risk factor for CTS. US can be used for evaluating risk groups.
NaturalLanguageKeyword :
Thyroid , carpal tunnel syndrome , ultrasonography , electrophysiologic testing
