title: Use of MRI for the early diagnosis of masticatory muscle myositis.
abstract: The medical records of two dogs that were diagnosed with masticatory muscle myositis (MMM) were reviewed. The reported clinical signs included intense pain when opening the mouth and restricted jaw movement. MRI detected widespread, symmetrical, and inhomogeneously hyperintense areas in the masticatory muscle. Electromyography (EMG) demonstrated severe and spontaneous pathologic activity in the temporal and masseter muscles. With early therapeutic treatment, remission of symptoms occurred within 2 mo, and no relapses were observed for the subsequent 2 yr. The gold standard for the diagnosis of MMM is the 2M antibody test, but the purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of MRI as an accurate and efficient diagnostic tool for the initiation of early therapy for the treatment of muscle myositis.
authors.affiliation: Associazione Professionale Neurovet, Legnano, Italy. alberto.cau@libero.it
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cauduro
authors.forename: Favole
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Paolo
authors.forename: Roberto M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Asperio
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rossini
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dondi
authors.forename: Lucia A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Simonetto
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cantile
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lorenzo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002981:Clindamycin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D004285:Dogs; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000662:veterinary*; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D009220:Myositis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D002981:Clindamycin