An efficacy analysis of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis and follow-up of polymyositis and dermatomyositis

Abstract

ObjectivesTo evaluate the value of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WBMRI) in diagnosing muscular and extra muscular lesions in patients with polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM).MethodsA retrospective analysis of WBMRI data from PM/DM patients who met the Bohan and Peter diagnostic criteria was performed. X2 test was used to compare the rate of positive diagnosis of newly diagnosed patients using WBMRI, serum creatine kinase test, and EMG. McNemar test was used to compare the performance of WBMRI and chest CT in detecting interstitial lung disease (ILD).ResultsThe study included 129 patients (30 PM cases and 99 DM cases). Of them, 81.4% (105/129) showed a visible inflammatory muscular edema on their WBMRI; 29.5% (38/129) had varying degrees of fatty infiltration (9 cases with clear muscular atrophy). Of the 66 newly diagnosed patients, the positive rates of WBMRI, muscle biopsy, serum creatine kinase test and EMG were 86.4% (57/66), 92.4% (61/66), 71.2% (47/66) and 71.1% (32/45), respectively. There was no significant difference in the positive rates between WBMRI and muscle biopsy (X2 = 1.28, P = 0.258). The WBMRI had a higher positive rate than both serum creatine kinase test (X2 = 4.53, P = 0.033) and EMG (X2 = 3.92, P = 0.047). In addition to muscular changes, WBMRI also detected interstitial lung disease (ILD) in 38 cases (29.5%), osteonecrosis in 15 cases (11.6%), and neoplastic lesions (5 malignant; 7 benign) in 12 cases (9.3%). Of the 61 patients who underwent routine chest CT examinations, the WBMRI and CT revealed ILD in 29 cases and 35 cases respectively. There was no significant difference in the sensitivity between WBMRI and CT (p = 0.146).ConclusionsWBMRI is a sensitive, non-invasive and efficient imaging method. It comprehensively displays the extent of muscular involvement in PM/DM patients, and it has the ability to diagnose other associated extra muscular diseases, such as ILD and systemic malignancy. WBMRI can also help screen steroid-induced osteonecrosis.

Current Classification and Management of Inflammatory Myopathies

“…Apart from using MRI for diagnosis, it is a suitable tool to check for acute damage and current inflammation. A whole body MRI is now considered a state-of-the-art technique that helps to identify involvement of muscles even at a subclinical level [ 88, 89 ]. MRI is also useful for detection of muscle inflammation in juvenile myositis [ 90, 91 ].…”

Polymyositis, Dermatomyositis, and Statins: A Review

“…Besides clinical criteria, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) [39,44] can be use-ful to make the right diagnosis. MRI with whole-body technique (WBMRI) is considered particularly useful for identifying the involvement of muscles: parameters such as inflammation, fibrosis, and atrophy can be used to determine the pattern of disease activity even at subclinical level [45][46][47][48][49]. In addition, MRI guides the choice of the site for muscle biopsy.…”

Use of magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

“…Huang и соавт. [8] с помощью этой методики выявили воспалительный отек мышц у 105 из 129 пациентов с ПМ и ДМ. Кроме того, в 38 случаях было обнаружено интерстициальное поражение легких, в 12 -опухоли (в том числе 5 злокачественных) и в 15 -остеонекроз костей.…”