[MRI of musculature in myalgia--indications and image findings].

[focal myositis]

This paper deals with the question of the clinical circumstances in which MRI seems to be promising in patients with myalgia . 241 patients suffering from myalgic symptoms were examined by axial scans of the muscular system with T 1 w and STIR-sequences . All patients underwent a complete neuromuscular examination , which included an MRI guided muscle -biopsy of 203 patients . The images were retrospectively analysed as to the typical characteristics of differential diagnosis . In cases of idiopathic or bacterial /viral induced myositis , primary vasculitis , and rhabdomyolysis , edematous changes of the muscles could always be found . Abscesses were only found in bacterial myositis . In cases of poly- and dermatomyositis as well as inclusion-body-myositis , MRI showed a uniform distribution pattern with emphasis on the quadriceps muscles . In contrast to other neuromuscular diseases in bacterial induced myositis , focal myositis , and rhabdomyolysis a strong contrast agent enhancement was seen . All patients with myalgic syndromes without any other additional neuropathological findings and 86 % of the patients suffering from polymyalgia rheumatica had normal MR-findings . MRI allows a correct exclusion of an inflammatory , tumorous , or rhabdomyolitic cause of a myalgia and leads to pathognomonic findings for these diseases . Diseases belonging to the group of endocrine , toxic , or metabolic myopathies might be normal in MRI . We believe that an indication for MRI is given when muscular pain is associated with additional neuromuscular symptoms , especially if an inflammatory origin of the myalgia is suspected or if a muscle biopsy is planned .

Diseases
Validation

Diseases presenting "primary vasculitis" symptom

focal myositis

You can validate or delete this automatically detected symptom