Thigh magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of disease activity in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies followed in a single center.
In patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been proposed as a useful tool for diagnosis and follow-up. It may identify muscle inflammation (edema) and fatty infiltration for evaluation of disease activity and damage. Little information is available on the role of MRI in assessment of large cohorts of adult patients with IIM.



Fifty-one patients underwent MRI of the thigh muscles, laboratory tests, and clinical evaluation, including Physician Global Assessment (PGA) of myositis activity and the Manual Muscle Test 8 (MMT8).



Muscle edema correlated significantly with creatine kinase values (P = 0.017) and PGA (P < 0.001). A significant correlation between edema and MMT8 values (P = 0.025) was observed when patients with muscle fatty infiltration were excluded. With respect to clinical diagnosis, the sensitivity of MRI was 92.3%, and specificity was 83.3%.



MRI appears to provide additional information that complements clinical and biochemical examinations. Muscle Nerve 54: 666-672, 2016.
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. simone.barsotti.pisa@gmail.com.|Genetic, Oncology and Clinical Medicine doctorate, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. simone.barsotti.pisa@gmail.com.
Simone
S
Barsotti
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
Virna
V
Zampa
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Rosaria
R
Talarico
Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Council of Research, Pisa, Italy.
Fabrizio
F
Minichilli
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University of Pisa, Via Roma 67, 56126, Pisa, Italy.
Simona
S
Ortori
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Valentina
V
Iacopetti
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Anna
A
D'ascanio
Immunoallergology Unit, Internal Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Antonio Gaetano
AG
Tavoni
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Stefano
S
Bombardieri
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Marta
M
Mosca
Rheumatology Unit, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Rossella
R
Neri
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018450:Disease Progression; D004487:Edema / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D009220:Myositis / Q000097:blood / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013848:Thigh / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
MRI; dermatomyositis; disease activity; idiopathic inflammatory myopathy; magnetic resonance imaging; myositis; polymyositis