DIAGNOSTIC ULTRASOUND OF THE HAND AND WRIST

To assess the efficacy, role, and limitations of diagnostic ultrasound in the hand and wrist, the results of 98 examinations performed for a variety of surgical conditions were retrospectively analyzed. Ultraso und was shown to be reliable in evaluating radiolucent foreign body, t endon rupture versus tendon adhesion, tendinitis, peritendinitis, and ganglion cyst (specificity, 1; positive predictive value, 1). A correc t suggestion of soft tissue mass histology was offered in six of eight operated cases. Tumor size and extent was accurately assessed in all but one case. The observed limitation of ultrasound was a small false negative rate in each category, which related to a variety of factors, including operator dependence, resolution threshold in the submillime ter range, image degradation due to postoperative edema, a narrow fiel d of view, and one instance of indiscrete tumor margination. More work is needed to determine the role (if any) of ultrasound in the evaluat ion of peripheral nerve, triangular fibrocartilage, dorsal carpal liga ment, and bone pathology.