[Expert Recommendations for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Muscle Disorders]

Overview

Journal Radiologie (Heidelb)

Specialty Radiology

Date 2024 Apr 19

PMID 38639916

Authors

Rachel Zeng

Sarah Schlaeger

Matthias Turk

Thomas Baum

Marcus Deschauer

Rolf Janka

Dimitrios Karampinos

Jan Kassubek

Sarah Keller-Yamamura

Cornelia Kornblum

Helmar Lehmann

Thorsten Lichtenstein

Armin M Nagel

Jens Reimann

Angela Rosenbohm

Lara Schlaffke

Manuel Schmidt

Christiane Schneider-Gold

Benedikt Schoser

Regina Trollmann

Matthias Vorgerd

Marc-Andre Weber

Jan S Kirschke

Jens Schmidt

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: Magnetic resonance (MRI) imaging of the skeletal muscles (muscle MRI for short) is increasingly being used in clinical routine for diagnosis and longitudinal assessment of muscle disorders. However, cross-centre standards for measurement protocol and radiological assessment are still lacking.

Objectives: The aim of this expert recommendation is to present standards for the application and interpretation of muscle MRI in hereditary and inflammatory muscle disorders.

Methods: This work was developed in collaboration between neurologists, neuroradiologists, radiologists, neuropaediatricians, neuroscientists and MR physicists from different university hospitals in Germany. The recommendations are based on expert knowledge and a focused literature search.

Results: The indications for muscle MRI are explained, including the detection and monitoring of structural tissue changes and oedema in the muscle, as well as the identification of a suitable biopsy site. Recommendations for the examination procedure and selection of appropriate MRI sequences are given. Finally, steps for a structured radiological assessment are presented.

Conclusions: The present work provides concrete recommendations for the indication, implementation and interpretation of muscle MRI in muscle disorders. Furthermore, it provides a possible basis for the standardisation of the measurement protocols at all clinical centres in Germany.

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