Fact · Accessibility and health
The AAOS patient guide says MRI scans give better images of the body's soft tissues than X-rays.
Checked against its source on October 17, 2026
In the source's own words
“MRI scans provide better images of the body's soft tissues than X-rays.”
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: OrthoInfo, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, OrthoInfo (AAOS), n.d., Diagnosis, Imaging.
Open the original- What it measures
- The guide says a doctor may order an MRI to look for other causes or for abnormal tissue that could affect the median nerve.
- What it does not show
- The guide does not say an MRI is needed for routine carpal tunnel syndrome. Its use depends on the clinician's judgment.