Adam Schiffenbauer1. 1. Environmental Autoimmunity Group, Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are diseases that can be difficult to diagnose and evaluate, but diagnosis has been improved by modern imaging techniques. Advances in imaging continue to be made. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the implications of these advances for the diagnosis, understanding, and management of muscle diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: There have been advances in imaging across multiple modalities. Several new radiotracers show an improved ability to focus on inflammation better than older agents. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has shown the ability to diagnose several idiopathic inflammatory myopathy mimics. MRI reveals previously unknown areas of disease when used for full-body imaging. Ultrasound has the ability to differentiate inclusion body myositis from other myopathies. SUMMARY: Currently, MRI and ultrasound offer the most information about these diseases in a given patient, and new advances in these fields have served to only make them more useful. New advances in nuclear imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy are showing that they have utility as well, and advances in these techniques may allow them to come to the forefront in evaluating difficult idiopathic inflammatory myopathy patients.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are diseases that can be difficult to diagnose and evaluate, but diagnosis has been improved by modern imaging techniques. Advances in imaging continue to be made. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the implications of these advances for the diagnosis, understanding, and management of muscle diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: There have been advances in imaging across multiple modalities. Several new radiotracers show an improved ability to focus on inflammation better than older agents. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy has shown the ability to diagnose several idiopathic inflammatory myopathy mimics. MRI reveals previously unknown areas of disease when used for full-body imaging. Ultrasound has the ability to differentiate inclusion body myositis from other myopathies. SUMMARY: Currently, MRI and ultrasound offer the most information about these diseases in a given patient, and new advances in these fields have served to only make them more useful. New advances in nuclear imaging and magnetic resonance spectroscopy are showing that they have utility as well, and advances in these techniques may allow them to come to the forefront in evaluating difficult idiopathic inflammatory myopathypatients.
Authors: Barbara H Janssen; Sigrid Pillen; Nicoline B M Voet; Arend Heerschap; Baziel G M van Engelen; Nens van Alfen Journal: Muscle Nerve Date: 2014-10-30 Impact factor: 3.217
Authors: Michael A Fischer; Christian W A Pfirrmann; Norman Espinosa; Dimitri A Raptis; Florian M Buck Journal: Eur Radiol Date: 2014-03-07 Impact factor: 5.315
Authors: Andrew C Smith; Todd B Parrish; Rebecca Abbott; Mark A Hoggarth; Karl Mendoza; Yu Fen Chen; James M Elliott Journal: Muscle Nerve Date: 2014-07-14 Impact factor: 3.217