MR nerve imaging of the wrist and hand.

Peripheral nerve imaging is still in a relatively early phase of development. This article explains a few of the important technical aspects of peripheral nerve imaging and reviews the results of animal experiments that form the foundation for interpreting image results. The clinical discussion focuses on the use of MR imaging for patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, keeping in mind that many aspects of the imaging technique may be applied to other areas. The reliability, diagnostic accuracy, and potential indications for peripheral nerve imaging are discussed.