Measurement of quadriceps muscle thickness and subcutaneous tissue thickness in normal children by real-time ultrasound imaging.

A reproducible ultrasound imaging technique is described for measurement of midthigh muscle and subcutaneous tissue thickness. We studied 276 children including those attending hospital outpatient clinics with non-neurological disorders, newborn babies on the obstetric wards, and children attending a local primary school. There was no significant difference in muscle depth between girls and boys, but girls had a significantly greater subcutaneous tissue depth than boys. The results of this study provide a basis for the study of muscle atrophy and hypertrophy in neuromuscular disease.