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Diagnostic Value of Virtual Touch Tissue Imaging Quantification for Evaluating Median Nerve Stiffness in Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Author(s) -
Zhang Chen,
Li Miao,
Jiang Jue,
Zhou Qi,
Xiang Li,
Huang Yajuan,
Ban Wenrui,
Peng Wei
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.1002/jum.14213
Subject(s) - carpal tunnel syndrome , medicine , median nerve , carpal tunnel , receiver operating characteristic , nuclear medicine , ultrasound , cutoff , area under the curve , radiology , surgery , physics , quantum mechanics
Objectives To measure the shear wave velocity (SWV) of the median nerve by Virtual Touch tissue imaging quantification (VTIQ; Siemens AG, Erlangen, Germany) through the beginning of the carpal tunnel and to determine whether VTIQ could be used to diagnose carpal tunnel syndrome. Methods This study recruited 49 consecutive patients (72 wrists) with a definitive diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome and 23 healthy volunteers (46 wrists). We measured the median nerve diameter and cross‐sectional area by 2‐dimensional sonography and the SWV by VTIQ. The interobserver variability was analyzed, and diagnostic values were evaluated by drawing a receiver operating characteristic curve. Results The median nerve SWV was significantly higher in the carpal tunnel syndrome group (3.857 m/s) than the control group (2.542 m/s; P < .05). A 3.0‐m/s SWV cutoff value revealed sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of 83.3%, 91.3%, 93.8%, 77.8%, and 86.4%, respectively. The interobserver agreement was excellent for the SWV measurements. Conclusions The median nerve SWV at the carpal tunnel inlet is significantly higher in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, for whom VTIQ appears to be a highly reproducible diagnostic technique.