Peer-reviewed research
The Sensitivity and Specificity of Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: A Meta-analysis
John R Fowler, Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research, 2011 · DOI 10.1007/s11999-010-1637-5
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- A meta-analysis of studies that compared ultrasound with electrodiagnostic testing for carpal tunnel syndrome. It pools the sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound across those studies.
- How much weight it carries
- Peer-reviewed and widely cited. The authors report wide variation between studies, so the pooled figures are a rough guide. The reference standard is electrodiagnostic testing, not a clinical diagnosis.
Facts taken from this source
- In a 2011 meta-analysis, ultrasound had a sensitivity of 77.6 percent and a specificity of 86.8 percent for diagnosing carpal tunnel syndrome, measured against electrodiagnostic testing.
“The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasound in the diagnosis of CTS are 77.6% and 86.8%, respectively.” (Conclusions)