Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography in Evaluation of Muscle Diseases

Role of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Ultrasonography in Evaluation of Muscle Diseases

This study aims to determine the association between the pathological changes detected by ultrasound and those detected in MRI in muscle diseases of different etiologies.

Enrolled patients will be subjected to the following:

Neuro-imaging Studies:

1. Skeletal Muscle ultrasound:

   The muscle group(s) to be assessed will be determined based on the category of the muscle disease for which the patient is being evaluated. A linear probe of 5-12 megahertz will be used.

2. MRI of the suspected (affected) muscle group by ultrasound. Image acquisition: Selective regional MRI imaging will be done based on the results of muscle ultrasound MRI cuts included are the axial section of conventional T1- and T2-weighted sequences, for the evaluation of muscles' signal intensity and bulk.

Patients will be subjected to both imaging studies to compare their accuracy.

Neurophysiological Studies:

1. Nerve conduction study
2. Electromyogram The interpretation of the neurophysiological studies will be performed by a neuropsychiatry specialist, Department of Neurology, Assiut University Hospital.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. A clinical diagnosis of muscle diseases; irrespective of different etiologies
2. Age > 3 years

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients with altered muscle anatomy due to severe trauma, tumor or surgery.
2. Severe deformity preventing examination.
3. Age < 3years.
4. Patients with contraindications to MRI as patients with pacemaker, aneurysmal clipping, retained metallic