Panoramic ultrasound: a novel and valid tool for monitoring change in muscle mass

Abstract

BackgroundThe strong link between reduced muscle mass and morbidity and mortality highlights the urgent need for simple techniques that can monitor change in skeletal muscle cross‐sectional area (CSA). Our objective was to examine the validity of panoramic ultrasound to detect change in quadriceps and gastrocnemius size in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in subjects randomized to 70 days of bed rest (BR) with or without exercise.MethodsPanoramic ultrasound and MRI images of the quadriceps and gastrocnemius muscles were acquired on the right leg of 27 subjects (26 male, 1 female; age: 34.6 ± 7.8 years; body mass: 77.5 ± 10.0 kg; body mass index: 24.2 ± 2.8 kg/m2; height: 179.1 ± 6.9 cm) before (BR‐6), during (BR3, 7, 11, 15, 22, 29, 36, 53, 69), and after (BR+3, +6, +10) BR. Validity of panoramic ultrasound to detect change in muscle CSA was assessed by Bland–Altman plots, Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value.ResultsSix hundred ninety‐eight panoramic ultrasound CSA and 698 MRI CSA measurements were assessed. Concordance between ultrasound and MRI was excellent in the quadriceps (CCC: 0.78; P < 0.0001), whereas there was poor concordance in the gastrocnemius (CCC: 0.37; P < 0.0006). Compared with MRI, panoramic ultrasound demonstrated high accuracy in detecting quadriceps atrophy and hypertrophy (sensitivity: 73.7%; specificity: 74.2%) and gastrocnemius atrophy (sensitivity: 83.1%) and low accuracy in detecting gastrocnemius hypertrophy (specificity: 33.0%).ConclusionsPanoramic ultrasound imaging is a valid tool for monitoring quadriceps muscle atrophy and hypertrophy and for detecting gastrocnemius atrophy.

Ultrasound assessment of muscle mass in response to exercise training in chronic kidney disease: a comparison with MRI

“…In agreement with the results presented here, a recent systematic review concluded that ultrasound is a valid and reliable tool for muscle quantification in older adults and some clinical populations . Moreover, a number of studies have reported good associations between ultrasound‐derived muscle CSA and thickness with volume derived by MRI …”

“…24 Moreover, a number of studies have reported good associations between ultrasound-derived muscle CSA and thickness with volume derived by MRI . 13,16,25 More recently, Franchi et al 25 demonstrated that ultrasound-derived vastus lateralis (VL) muscle thickness was associated with VL anatomical CSA and volume measured using MRI at a single time point. The authors also report a strong positive correlation between changes in VL muscle thickness and CSA but not volume following resistance exercise in young healthy participants.…”

“…Ultrasound imaging is a commonly available technique used within clinical settings; however, its application for the assessment of muscle mass in CKD populations has been largely overlooked in comparison with the aforementioned methods. Despite this, ultrasound imaging allows for a quick and accurate assessment of individual muscle architectural characteristics and has been shown to correlate well with MRI in healthy populations . In addition to this, there are now a growing number of studies showing that the architecture of the lower extremities [most commonly the rectus femoris (RF)] assessed by ultrasound is associated with physical performance in older and other clinical populations …”

“…Despite this, ultrasound imaging allows for a quick and accurate assessment of individual muscle architectural characteristics and has been shown to correlate well with MRI in healthy populations. 13,15,16 In addition to this, there are now a growing number of studies showing that the architecture of the lower extremities [most commonly the rectus femoris (RF)] assessed by ultrasound is associated with physical performance in older and other clinical populations . [17][18][19] In CKD populations, ultrasound has recently been used to identify the presence of low muscle mass, measured as quadriceps thickness, in end stage renal disease patients receiving haemodialysis.…”

Muscle wasting and sarcopenia in heart failure: a brief overview of the current literature

“…35 In patients on the intensive care unit, muscular weakness and muscle wasting may be highly prevalent and may, for example, present as failure to wean from mechanical ventilation. 44 The aforementioned screening tools and devices may help in screening patients for the presence for sarcopenia. Such problems may be particularly important in patients admitted to the intensive care unit with sarcopenia being already present.…”