Application of shear wave elastography and median nerve cross-section area in the diagnosis and staging of carpal tunnel syndrome: a case-control study

Purpose
Imaging is gaining a more prominent role in the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS), especially ultra­sonography. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a novel qualitative method to study mechanical changes in tissue. n this study, we aim to assess the role of SWE in diagnosing and staining of the disease.

Material and methods
A total of 124 wrists were included in the study. Seventy wrists had CTS, and 54 were included as the control group. All of the wrists with CTS had staging done with nerve conduction study. All patients underwent ultrasonography by an expert radiologist and had the SWE and cross-section of the median nerve determined. These values were compared among the 2 groups and different stages of CTS. The receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to assess the diagnostic role of each of the variables.

Results
Cross-section area (CSA) and SWE were significantly different between the 2 groups (p = 0.0001). CSA was also significantly different among various stages of CTS. SWE was not significantly different among moderate and severe stages of CTS. Both of the variables had a good ability to distinguish mild CTS from healthy wrists (p = 0.0001).

Conclusions
SWE can be used in diagnosing CTS and in the staging of the disease.