Nerve Conduction Studies and Measurement of Median Nerve Cross-Sectional Area in Patients Newly Diagnosed with Hypothyroidism

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the rate of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and polyneuropathy in patients with new-diagnosed hypothyroidism and the relationship between median nerve conduction and the cross-sectional area of the median nerve by ultrasonography. Material and Methods: It was a prospective, cross-sectional and case-control study. This study included thirty-five new-diagnosed hypothyroidism cases and thirty-five healthy controls. Bilateral sensory and motor nerve potentials were noted in the lower and upper extremities. The cross-sectional area of the median nerve was examined at the entrance of the CT with the axial plan by ultrasonography. The relationship between the cross-sectional areas of the median nerve and nerve conduction parameters was investigated. Results: CTS was determined electrophysiologically in 8 (22.9%) patients. The control group had no CTS. There was no significant electrophysiological finding to support polyneuropathy in the patients. The cross-sectional areas of the median nerve were higher in the patient group but did not reach statistically significant (p>0.05). There was a positive correlation between the right and left cross-sectional area of median nerves and body mass index (BMI) (p<0.05). Conclusion: The rate of CTS is high in patients with newly diagnosed hypothyroidism. There is a positive correlation between cross-sectional nerve areas and BMI. There was no significant correlation between nerve conductions and median nerve ultrasonographic cross-sectional areas.