An overview is presented of the assessment of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in manual workers, with emphasis on the distinction from other compression syndromes and from diffuse polyneuropathy. Clinical examinations, electrodiagnostic studies, the determination of vibration threshold, thermography, and, recently, computerized tomography have been used. This last-mentioned method has also been employed in a study indicating that a subgroup of the general population may possess a risk factor, small carpal canal, associated with the development of CTS.