Diagnostic value of hand X-rays in Turner's syndrome.

Previously described radiological signs of Turner's syndrome were evaluated in X-rays of the left hand from 17 patients with Turner's syndrome (age 10.4--15.3 years) and 17 age-matched girls with constitutional short stature. While none of the signs clearly distinguished between the two groups, ballooning of the tips of the terminal phalanges with a high ratio between the tip and mid-shaft diameters seemed to be the most useful of Turner's syndrome. Disproportionately long phalanges in the 4th finger and the presence of a coarse reticular pattern in the carpal bones appeared to be the next most useful signs. The presence of a short 4th metacarpal or a narrow carpal angle, and assessment for Madelung's deformity were of little value in distinguishing between the two groups.