筋疾患の超音波診断

Sonographic Evaluation of Myopathy

筋疾患が疑われる患者の診断と治療において筋画像検査が重要となっている。超音波検査は広範な筋の評価を短時間で行うことができ，筋ジストロフィーや筋炎における輝度異常，サルコイドミオパチーや封入体筋炎のような局所の異常を認める。筋生検が必要な症例においては，超音波で適切な生検部位の選択を行うことができる。今後の課題としては，超音波検査とそれ以外の画像所見や臨床所見などとの相関をみる必要がある。

Abstract

The imaging of muscle fibers has been utilized in the management of patients with suspected myopathy. Ultrasonography (US) of skeletal muscles has advantages over MRI and CT in that US can quickly assess muscles in the entire body. US findings in myopathy are diffuse (e.g., increased or decreased echo signal in muscular dystrophy and myositis) and focal (e.g., a mass in sarcoid myopathy, or preferential involvement in inclusion body myositis). US evaluation is useful in determining the potential site for a muscle biopsy, where an adequate degree of myopathy should be present. Further studies will reveal the correlation between the sonographic findings as well as clinical and other imaging abnormalities.