Imaging the Skeletal Muscle: When to Use MR imaging and When to Use Ultrasound

Imaging of skeletal muscle in vitamin D deficiency

“…The optimal use of US and MRI in various muscle disorders, including muscle strains and tears, delayed onset muscle soreness, myositis ossificans, muscle hernia, acute and chronic exertion compartment syndromes, inflammatory and infectious diseases, tumours and non-neoplastic masses is crucial to obtain the best information clinically useful. The value of CT, US, MRI in each muscle disorder has to weighted up to take advantage of strengths and weaknesses of the each technique and to understand the appropriate place of modern imaging in the clinical management of patients with muscle disease [9,10] . It is known that US, MRI, and CT are widely used with different purposes to visualize the normal anatomy of the musculo-skeletal system.…”

“…It is concluded that DTI fiber directions resemble fascicle directions visible in high-resolution images very well. Indeed, on DTI images it is possible to observe and study specific features of the skeletal muscle such as the pennate insertion on the aponeuroses and the pennation angle [9,10] . DTI has the potential to be introduced in biomechanical research on skeletal muscle function.…”

Ultrasound versus MRI in common fibular neuropathy

“…US evaluation of the common fibular nerve is possible in daily clinical practice, but interpretation of US findings may be difficult for less experienced clinicians, and radiologists often use and prefer MRI instead of US . In addition, US is not the modality of choice for evaluation of muscle denervation changes; MRI is usually preferred . Indeed, US quantification of muscular denervation is difficult due to anisotropy .…”

“…In addition, US is not the modality of choice for evaluation of muscle denervation changes; MRI is usually preferred . Indeed, US quantification of muscular denervation is difficult due to anisotropy . As an adjunct to electromyography (EMG), MRI and US have been used for direct visualization of the nerve, lesion localization, and depiction of secondary muscle denervation changes or intraneural edema .…”

“…Indeed, US quantification of muscular denervation is difficult due to anisotropy . As an adjunct to electromyography (EMG), MRI and US have been used for direct visualization of the nerve, lesion localization, and depiction of secondary muscle denervation changes or intraneural edema . MRI, like US, provides additional information about morphologic abnormalities to help in diagnosis and influence clinical management …”