title: MRI of neuromuscular disease: the basics.
abstract: Neuromuscular diseases are numerous and challenging to a variety of clinicians because patients may present to a variety of caregivers with nonspecific complaints. Difficulties in diagnosis and treatment toughen the management of this group. Advancements in the ability to see muscle lesions with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) introduce radiologists to this complex field and at the same time confront clinicians with new issues, such as if and when to tap this technology on behalf of their patients. Like other published reviews on this topic, this article summarizes the current literature regarding MRI applications and limitations in neuromuscular diseases. It also asks, Given the obvious increment that MRI affords the evaluation of neuromuscular conditions, why is the test not applied more often?
authors.affiliation: Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-8896, USA.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fleckenstein
mesh_terms: D001706:Biopsy; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D009468:Neuromuscular Diseases / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis*