Anatomical Variation Quality Assessment Tool (AVQAT) is a new structured tool for the assessment and description of anatomical case reports focused on anatomical variations. It was developed in response to the problem that many reports of rare anatomical findings are published inconsistently: they often lack a precise definition, a description of the relationship to surrounding structures, clinical relevance, imaging documentation, or a clear distinction between an anatomical finding and a pathology.

AVQAT therefore provides a practical framework for systematically documenting anatomical variations and assessing their quality. For our work, this approach is particularly important because anatomical variations in the hand, wrist, and upper limb are not merely interesting findings, but may directly influence biomechanics, surgical approach, and the interpretation of clinical symptoms.