[Intramuscular degeneration process in Duchenne muscular dystrophy--investigation by longitudinal MR imaging of the skeletal muscles].
Intramuscular degeneration process of Duchenne dystrophy skeletal muscles was investigated by longitudinal skeletal muscle imaging with high-field-strength NMR-CT of 1.5 Tesla. Thigh muscles in 10 cases ranging in age from 4 to 19 years were examined by T1-weighed longitudinal images (TR = 215-505 ms, TE = 19-20 ms). Following results were obtained: (1) Skeletal muscle degeneration was depicted as high signal intensity area reflecting its high fat contents. (2) These high signal intensity areas had a longitudinally streaky appearance in parallel direction with myofibers. (3) These findings were more prominent toward myotendon junction than muscle bellies. (4) Skeletal muscle degeneration progressed rapidly between 7 to 10 years of age, and reached a plateau after that.
Hasegawa
T
T
Department of Neurology, Shimoshizu National Hospital.
Matsumura
K
K
Hashimoto
T
T
Ikehira
H
H
Fukuda
H
H
Tateno
Y
Y
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D009136:Muscular Dystrophies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology