• Carpal tunnel: space between flexor retinaculum (transverse carpal ligament) and carpal bones, through which median nerve travels
• Syndrome is an entrapment neuropathy
• Symptoms due to compression of median nerve by trauma, masses within canal (hemangioma, lipoma, ganglia), rheumatoid arthritis, amyloidosis

• Pain, often accompanied by parasthesia in distribution of median nerve
• Rarely wasting of thenar muscles

• 48 year old man with giant lipoma causing carpal tunnel syndrome (Pan Afr Med J 2011;9:29)
• 64 year old woman with periarticular calcification causing acute carpal tunnel syndrome (J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong) 2009;17:234)

• Surgical; division of transverse carpal ligament

Untreated

Lesion with incision marking

Giant lipoma stretching median nerve

2 years follow up

• Nerve appears constricted and pale

Resected giant lipoma

• Transverse carpal ligament shows nonspecific fibrosis

This information is intended for physicians and related personnel, who understand that medical information is often imperfect, and must be interpreted in the context of a patient's clinical data using reasonable medical judgment. This website should not be used as a substitute for the advice of a licensed physician.

All information on this website is protected by copyright of PathologyOutlines.com, Inc. Information from third parties may also be protected by copyright. Please contact us at [email protected] with any questions (click here for other contact information).