Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40441751›Full record

ArticleRMD open2025

Diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome with ultrasound: should we go more distal?

Tomás Fontes, Alexandre Sepriano, Sofia Ramiro, Paula Moniz, Carolina Furtado, Guilherme Figueiredo, Sandra Falcão

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in RMD open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Diagnosis: A Narrative Review of Complementary Roles of Neuromuscular Ultrasound and Electrodiagnostic Studies.Medical science monitor : international medical journal of experimental and clinical research · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Tomás FontesRheumatology, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo de Ponta Delgada EPE, Ponta Delgada, Portugal tomasmiguelfontes@gmail.com.ORCID 0000-0002-5629-7961
Alexandre SeprianoCHRC Campus Nova Medical School, Lisboa, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0003-1954-0229
Sofia RamiroDepartment of Rheumatology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands.ORCID 0000-0002-8899-9087
Paula MonizPlastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo de Ponta Delgada EPE, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal.
Carolina FurtadoRheumatology, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo de Ponta Delgada EPE, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.ORCID 0000-0001-5380-7180
Guilherme FigueiredoRheumatology, Hospital do Divino Espírito Santo de Ponta Delgada EPE, Ponta Delgada, Portugal.
Sandra FalcãoiNOVA4Health, NOVA Medical School, Lisbon, Portugal.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesTo assess the value of adding the ultradistal level to other more thoroughly studied levels of the carpal tunnel when measuring the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the median nerve (MN) by ultrasound (US) in diagnosing patients with primary carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).

methodsPatients clinically diagnosed with primary CTS and healthy controls were included. The MN-CSA was measured by US at three wrist levels: proximal, distal and ultradistal. The best cut-off to differentiate cases and controls was determined for the CSA and for the difference between levels of the same wrist. The performance of different definitions for US-CTS compared with the clinical diagnosis of CTS was evaluated: (1) CSA above cut-off at each level; (2) CSA-difference above cut-off at each level; (3) ≥1 level with CSA above cut-off and (4) ≥1 CSA-difference above cut-off. Definition 3, excluding the ultradistal level, and combinations of definitions were also tested.

resultsIn total, 219 patients and 39 controls were included. The CSA was higher in patients (10.5-16.8 mm

conclusionsAdding the ultradistal level improves the performance of US for diagnosing CTS. We suggest adding it in clinical practice when investigating CTS.

Indexed as

Carpal Tunnel SyndromeMedian NerveAdultAgedCase-Control StudiesFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedSensitivity and SpecificityUltrasonographyClassificationInflammationUltrasonography

Identifiers

PMID40441751
PMCPMC12121607

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.