title: Magnetic resonance imaging of the muscles in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis.
abstract: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the muscles was performed in patients with polymyositis and dermatomyositis. Lesions with high intensity on T2-weighted image, but normal intensity on T1-weighted image, were observed in 7 of 8 patients in the active stage of the disease. Following clinical improvement with corticosteroid therapy in 4 patients, the high intensity lesions reverted to normal. The high intensity lesions seen on T2-weighted image in the active stage may represent edema and inflammation of the muscle. MRI of the muscle may serve as a diagnostic tool and be useful for follow-up of the patients with polymyositis or dermatomyositis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fujino
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Goto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Onitsuka
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003882:Dermatomyositis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009132:Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis*