Magnetic resonance imaging in the diagnosis of canine inflammatory myopathies in three dogs.
In humans affected with inflammatory myopathies, regions of altered signal intensity are found on magnetic resonance (MR) images of affected muscles. Although electromyography (EMG) is more practical for muscle disease evaluation, and a muscle biopsy is the only manner in which a definitive diagnosis can be made, MR imaging has proven useful if a specific anatomic localization is difficult to achieve. Three dogs with focal inflammatory myopathy diagnosed with the assistance of MR imaging are discussed and the findings are compared with those found in humans. MR images of the affected muscles in each dog were characterized by diffuse and poorly marginated abnormal signal on T1- and T2-weighted images. Marked enhancement was noted in these muscles after contrast medium administration. An inflammatory myopathy was confirmed histologically in all three dogs. A good association existed between the MR images and muscle inflammation identified histopathologically. MR imaging may be a useful adjunctive procedure for canine inflammatory myopathies.
Platt
Simon R
SR
Centre for Small Animal Studies, The Animal Health Trust, Newmarket, Suffolk CB87UU, UK. Simon.platt@aht.org.uk
McConnell
J Fraser
JF
Garosi
Laurent S
LS
Ladlow
Jane
J
de Stefani
Alberta
A
Shelton
G Diane
GD
D000818:Animals; D003287:Contrast Media; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007089:Image Enhancement; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests
D003287:Contrast Media