Takamasa Kitaoji1, Yu-Ichi Noto2, Yuta Kojima3, Yukiko Tsuji4, Toshiki Mizuno5, Masanori Nakagawa6. 1. Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: kitaoji@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp. 2. North Medical Center, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: y-noto@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp. 3. Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: ytkjm@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp. 4. Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: y-tsuji@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp. 5. Department of Neurology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: mizuno@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp. 6. North Medical Center, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. Electronic address: mnakagaw@koto.kpu-m.ac.jp.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utility of automatic thresholding methods for quantitative muscle echogenicity assessment as a marker of disease severity in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A). METHODS: Muscle ultrasound was performed in 15 CMT1A patients and 7 healthy controls. Muscle echogenicity of six limb muscles in each subject was assessed by 16 automatic thresholding methods and conventional grey-scale analysis. Echogenicity of each method in CMT1A patients was compared with that in controls. A correlation between the echogenicity and CMT neuropathy score (CMTNS) was also analysed in CMT1A patients. RESULTS: Significant differences in mean echogenicity of the 6 muscles between CMT1A patients and controls were found both in grey-scale analysis (p < 0.01) and 11 of the 16 automatic thresholding methods (p < 0.05 in each method). In CMT1A patients, mean echogenicity of the 6 muscles was positively correlated with CMTNS in 8 of the 16 automatic thresholding methods, but not in grey-scale analysis. CONCLUSION: Automatic thresholding methods can be used to detect the difference in muscle echogenicity between CMT1A patients and controls. Echogenicity parameters correlate with the disease severity. SIGNIFICANCE: Quantitative muscle echogenicity assessment by automatic thresholding methods shows potential as a surrogate marker of disease progression in CMT1A.
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the utility of automatic thresholding methods for quantitative muscle echogenicity assessment as a marker of disease severity in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A). METHODS: Muscle ultrasound was performed in 15 CMT1A patients and 7 healthy controls. Muscle echogenicity of six limb muscles in each subject was assessed by 16 automatic thresholding methods and conventional grey-scale analysis. Echogenicity of each method in CMT1A patients was compared with that in controls. A correlation between the echogenicity and CMT neuropathy score (CMTNS) was also analysed in CMT1A patients. RESULTS: Significant differences in mean echogenicity of the 6 muscles between CMT1A patients and controls were found both in grey-scale analysis (p < 0.01) and 11 of the 16 automatic thresholding methods (p < 0.05 in each method). In CMT1A patients, mean echogenicity of the 6 muscles was positively correlated with CMTNS in 8 of the 16 automatic thresholding methods, but not in grey-scale analysis. CONCLUSION: Automatic thresholding methods can be used to detect the difference in muscle echogenicity between CMT1A patients and controls. Echogenicity parameters correlate with the disease severity. SIGNIFICANCE: Quantitative muscle echogenicity assessment by automatic thresholding methods shows potential as a surrogate marker of disease progression in CMT1A.