title: MR imaging of skeletal muscle signal alterations: Systematic approach to evaluation.
abstract: Muscle edema or edema-like signal alterations are commonly encountered findings in musculoskeletal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Although such signal alterations are very sensitive for detection of the underlying muscle pathology, these are often non-specific findings. Encompassing knowledge of their typical clinical presentations, characteristic appearances and patterns of muscle signal alterations and following a systematic approach towards their assessment, a reader can effectively narrow down the differential diagnosis. This article outlines the role of conventional imaging and advanced anatomic and functional musculoskeletal MR imaging techniques in the evaluation of various muscle disorders and presents a systematic approach towards their diagnosis and management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Yale New Haven Health System at Bridgeport Hospital, CT, United States.
authors.forename: Yogesh
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, United States.
authors.forename: Vibhor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Wadhwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
authors.forename: Lauren
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Phillips
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States.
authors.forename: Parham
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pezeshk
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United States. Electronic address: avneesh.chhabra@utsouthwestern.edu.
authors.forename: Avneesh
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chhabra
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004487:Edema / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Edema; MRI; Muscle; Myopathy; Systematic approach