HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Figures Only Full Text Full Text (PDF) CME Test (opens in a new window) Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by May, D. A. Articles by Manaster, B. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by May, D. A. Articles by Manaster, B. J. Related Collections Magnetic Resonance Imaging Musculoskeletal Radiology

Abnormal Signal Intensity in Skeletal Muscle at MR Imaging: Patterns, Pearls, and Pitfalls¹

¹ From the Department of Radiology, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 N 12th St, Richmond, VA 23298. Presented as a scientific exhibit at the 1999 RSNA scientific assembly. Received February 9, 2000; revision requested March 28 and received April 12; accepted April 19. Address correspondence to D.A.M. (damay@hsc.vcu.edu).

Abnormal signal intensity within skeletal muscle is frequently encountered at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Potential causes are diverse, including traumatic, infectious, autoimmune, inflammatory, neoplastic, neurologic, and iatrogenic conditions. Alterations in muscle signal intensity seen in pathologic conditions usually fall into one of three recognizable patterns: muscle edema, fatty infiltration, and mass lesion. Muscle edema may be seen in polymyositis and dermatomyositis, mild injuries, infectious myositis, radiation therapy, subacute denervation, compartment syndrome, early myositis ossificans, rhabdomyolysis, and sickle cell crisis. Fatty infiltration may be seen in chronic denervation, in chronic disuse, as a late finding after a severe muscle injury or chronic tendon tear, and in corticosteroid use. The mass lesion pattern may be seen in neoplasms, intramuscular abscess, myonecrosis, traumatic injury, myositis ossificans, muscular sarcoidosis, and parasitic infection. Some of these conditions require prompt medical or surgical management, whereas others do not benefit from medical intervention. The ability to accurately diagnose these conditions is therefore necessary, and biopsy may be required to establish the correct diagnosis. Clues to the correct diagnosis and whether biopsy is necessary or appropriate are often present on the MR images, especially when they are correlated with clinical features and the findings from other imaging modalities.

Index Terms: Muscles, abscess, 40.242 • Muscles, denervation, 40.82 • Muscles, diseases, 40.614, 40.83 • Muscles, infection, 40.20 • Muscles, injuries, 40.40 • Muscles, neoplasms, 40.30 • Myositis, 40.22, 40.241

This article has been cited by other articles:

				T. C. Major, S. Dhamija, N. Black, S. Liachenko, B. Morenko, G. Sobocinski, C. Okerberg, P. Tinholt, S. Madore, and M. C. Kowala The T- and L-Type Calcium Channel Blocker (CCB) Mibefradil Attenuates Leg Edema Induced by the L-Type CCB Nifedipine in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat: A Novel Differentiating Assay J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., June 1, 2008; 325(3): 723 - 731. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. T. Bui-Mansfield and S. D. O'Brien Reply Am. J. Roentgenol., June 1, 2008; 190(6): W380 - W381. [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. Yamabe, T. Nakamura, K. Oshio, Y. Kikuchi, H. Ikegami, and Y. Toyama Peripheral Nerve Injury: Diagnosis with MR Imaging of Denervated Skeletal Muscle--Experimental Study in Rats Radiology, May 1, 2008; 247(2): 409 - 417. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				V. Jain, A.N. Ellingson, and W.R.K. Smoker Lateral Pterygoid Muscle Rhabdomyolysis AJNR Am. J. Neuroradiol., November 1, 2007; 28(10): 1876 - 1877. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. K. Demir, M. Beser, and O. Akinci Case 118: Proliferative Myositis Radiology, August 1, 2007; 244(2): 613 - 616. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. S. Stacy and L. B. Dixon Pitfalls in MR Image Interpretation Prompting Referrals to an Orthopedic Oncology Clinic RadioGraphics, May 1, 2007; 27(3): 805 - 826. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Andreisek, D. W. Crook, D. Burg, B. Marincek, and D. Weishaupt Peripheral Neuropathies of the Median, Radial, and Ulnar Nerves: MR Imaging Features RadioGraphics, September 1, 2006; 26(5): 1267 - 1287. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. D. Ferdinand, Z. S. Rosenberg, M. E. Schweitzer, S. A. Stuchin, L. M. Jazrawi, S. R. Lenzo, R. J. Meislin, and K. Kiprovski MR Imaging Features of Radial Tunnel Syndrome: Initial Experience. Radiology, July 1, 2006; 240(1): 161 - 168. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M.-A. Weber, M. Krix, U. Jappe, H. B. Huttner, M. Hartmann, U. Meyding-Lamade, M. Essig, C. Fiehn, H.-U. Kauczor, and S. Delorme Pathologic Skeletal Muscle Perfusion in Patients with Myositis: Detection with Quantitative Contrast-enhanced US--Initial Results Radiology, December 21, 2005; (2005) 2382041822. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				G. Andreisek, M. Kilgus, D. Burg, N. Saupe, D. W. Crook, V. Meyer, B. Marincek, and D. Weishaupt MRI of the Intrinsic Muscles of the Hand: Spectrum of Imaging Findings and Clinical Correlation Am. J. Roentgenol., October 1, 2005; 185(4): 930 - 939. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. L. Moore, A. Teirstein, and C. Golimbu MRI of Sarcoidosis Patients with Musculoskeletal Symptoms Am. J. Roentgenol., July 1, 2005; 185(1): 154 - 159. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. M. Maillard, R. Jones, C. Owens, C. Pilkington, P. Woo, L. R. Wedderburn, and K. J. Murray Quantitative assessment of MRI T2 relaxation time of thigh muscles in juvenile dermatomyositis Rheumatology, May 1, 2004; 43(5): 603 - 608. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. Q. Ly, E. K. Yi, and D. P. Beall Diabetic Muscle Infarction Am. J. Roentgenol., November 1, 2003; 181(5): 1216 - 1216. [Full Text] [PDF]