Bilateral thenar hammer syndrome.

BACKGROUND

Thenar hammer syndrome is a very rare condition that mimics rheumatic diseases such as carpal syndrome tunnel, Raynaud's phenomenon, and hand synovitis.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the sonographic presentation of thenar hammer syndrome in a typical patient.

METHODS

Grey-scale sonography and colour Doppler imaging of the hands with an iU22 scanner (Philips) were performed.

RESULTS

In B mode, the lesion was seen as a large, rounded, heterogeneous area combining hypoechoic and echogenic components. Pseudoaneurysm was diagnosed based on presence of a cystic saccular formation arising directly from the adjacent artery and exhibiting an irregular thick wall with turbulent blood flow in the lumen. Colour Doppler showed blood flow in part of the lumen, the rest of which was filled with a thrombus seen as echogenic tissue.

CONCLUSION

Sonography can help to diagnose thenar hammer syndrome. Angiography may be unnecessary in patients with normal colour Doppler findings.