T2 mapping of the median nerve in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and healthy volunteers
Atsushi Maeda and Taku Suzuki contributed equally to this work.
Funding information Fujita Health University
Abstract
Introduction
We investigated the changes in MRI T2 mapping values in subjects with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) compared to healthy controls.
Methods
We enrolled 71 patients with CTS and 26 healthy controls. Median nerve T2 values were measured at the distal carpal tunnel, hamate bone, proximal carpal tunnel, and forearm levels. These were compared between patients and controls and correlated with median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) and nerve conduction measurements.
Results
The mean T2 values at the proximal carpal tunnel levels were higher in the CTS group (56.7 ms) than in the control group (51.2 ms, P = .02) and also were higher than at the distal carpal tunnel (51.0 ms, P < .001) and forearm levels (47.6 ms, P < .001). T2 values were not significantly associated with CSA or nerve conduction measurements.
Discussion
T2 mapping of the carpal tunnel provides qualitative information on median nerve pathology but does not reflect CTS severity.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
None of the authors has any conflict of interest to disclose. T2 mapping of the median nerve in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome and healthy volunteers.
Open Research
DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT
The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are not publicly available due to limitations of ethical approval involving the patient data and anonymity but are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.