Diagnostic Criteria for nTOS

At least 3 of the following 4 criteria:

1. Local findings
   1. History: Symptoms constant with irritation of inflammation at the site of compression (pain in the chest wall, axilla, upper back, shoulder, trapezius region, neck or head – including headache)
   2. Examination: Pain on palpation of the affected area
2. Peripheral findings
   1. History: Arm or hands symptoms consistent with central nerve compression (numbness, pain, paresthesias, vasomotor changes, weakness/muscle wasting) exacerbated by lifting the arms overhead or dangling the arms
   2. Examination: Palpation of the affected area reproduces peripheral symptoms
3. Absence of other reasonably likely diagnoses: cervical disc disease, shoulder pathology, carpal tunnel syndrome, CRPS, brachial neuritis
4. Positive response to test injection

 

Study	Reliability	Sn	Sp	LR+	LR-
Illig et al. (2016)	NA	NA	NA	NA	NA
Comment: It has to be said that the subjective nature of many of these diagnostic findings contributes to the controversy surrounding the validity of the diagnosis of nTOS