UNILATERAL CARPAL-TUNNEL SYNDROME AND SPACE-OCCUPYING LESIONS

To assess the association between unilateral carpal tunnel syndrome an d space-occupying lesions, 128 patients have been reviewed. They were divided into bilateral, subclinical (unilateral signs and symptoms, an d bilateral slowing in the median nerve conduction) and unilateral car pal tunnel syndrome. Space-occupying lesions were investigated on the basis of physical examination and wrist imaging using plain radiograph s and ultrasonograms. Of 20 patients with unilateral carpal tunnel syn drome, space-occupying lesions were found in seven (occult ganglion in five and occult calcified mass in two). In contrast, none of 89 patie nts with bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome and 19 with subclinical carp al tunnel syndrome had space-occupying lesions. We conclude that caref ul examination and wrist imaging on suspicion of local pathology, espe cially a space-occupying lesion, are needed when the condition is unil ateral and the aetiology is not clear from the history and on physical examination.