Keywords:
Musculoskeletal system, Musculoskeletal soft tissue, MR, Diagnostic procedure, Tissue characterisation
Authors:
L. Conti, G. Lanni, S. Battisti, A. Conchiglia, A. Barile, C. Masciocchi; L'Aquila/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2011/C-0671
Results
Abnormal MRI signal of the musculature is a typical finding in myopathies.
The superficial and deep muscle fasciae were evaluated for the presence of fascial thickening,
signal abnormalities,
and fluid collections on T1-weighted,
T2-weighted and long-TR fat-suppressed images (Fig.
1).
In all patients a so-called “comb-like” signal alteration was found on long-TR sequences involving in 8 cases hip and pelvis muscles,
in 3 cases thigh muscles and in 1 case leg muscles.
This particular appearance tracing out muscular fibers and fasciae was suggestive for musculofascial inflammatory process (Fig.
2).
Follow-up examinations demonstrated reduction or absence of signal alterations in a significant share of patients (Fig.
3,
Fig.4).