Research paper
Muscle imaging in health and disease

https://doi.org/10.1016/0960-8966(94)00052-BGet rights and content

Abstract

Muscle imaging has been used largely as an adjunct in the assessment of patients with muscle disease and has been reported in descriptive terms only. Developments in computer-based image analysis techniques applied to muscle have enabled the quantification of muscle images using ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance techniques. In conjunction with physiological measurements of muscle force, accurate determinations of muscle section area have allowed the determination of force per unit of cross-sectional area. This important measurement is essential if therapeutic approaches in muscle disease are to be adequately assessed. In this review the uses and merits of different imaging techniques are described with reference to new developments in quantitative analysis of muscle images and the possible utilisation of these techniques in neuromuscular disease is discussed.

References (50)

  • C.R. Bellina et al.

    Quantitative evaluation of 99mTc-pyrophosphate muscle uptake in patients with inflammatory and noninflammatory muscle diseases

    J Nuc Med Allied Sci

    (1978)
  • R.A. Yonker et al.

    Technetium pyrophosphate muscle scans in inflammatory muscle disease

    Br J Rheumatol

    (1987)
  • T.R. Swift et al.

    Tc-99m pyrophosphate labelling in McArdle syndrome

    J Nuc Med

    (1978)
  • C. Giraldi et al.

    99m TC-pyrophosphate muscle uptake in four subjects with Becker's disease

    J Nucl Med Allied Sci

    (1979)
  • D.J. Newham et al.

    Skeletal muscle damage: a study of isotope uptake, enzyme efflux and pain after stepping

    Eur J Appl Physiol

    (1986)
  • A.Q. Fischer et al.

    Muscle imaging in neuromuscular disease using computerized real-time sonography

    Muscle Nerve

    (1988)
  • E.B. Cady et al.

    Ultrasonic tissue characterisation of skeletal muscle

    Eur J Clin Sci

    (1983)
  • J.Z. Heckmatt et al.

    Real-time ultrasound imaging of muscles

    Muscle Nerve

    (1988)
  • G. Gunreben et al.

    Real-time sonography of acute and chronic muscle denervation

    Muscle Nerve

    (1991)
  • W. Dock et al.

    Neuromuscular Diseases: evaluation with high-frequency sonography

    Radiology

    (1990)
  • J.Z. Heckmatt et al.

    Quantitative sonography of muscle

    J Child Neurol

    (1989)
  • M. Ikai et al.

    A study on training effect on strength per unit cross-sectional area of muscle by means of ultrasonic measurement

    Int J Z Angew Physiol

    (1970)
  • A. Young et al.

    The effect of high-resistance training on the strength and cross-sectional area of the human quadriceps

    Eur J Clin Invest

    (1983)
  • K. Henriksson-Larsen et al.

    Do muscle fibre size and fibre angulation correlate in pennated human muscles?

    Eur J Appl Physiol

    (1992)
  • O.M. Rutherford et al.

    Measurement of fibre pennation using ultrasound in the human quadriceps in vivo

    Eur J Appl Physiol

    (1992)
  • View full text