HP56 : Muscle ultrasound in children with myopathy

Abstract

Muscle ultrasound is performed for quick, safe evaluation of the muscles’ structure, screening of neuromuscular pathologies. The quantitative muscle ultrasound (QMUS) echogenicity analysis is more sensitive in detecting neuromuscular pathology than a qualitative one, however, there are some limitation for widespread using of the QMUS (the influence of system hardware and software, image post-processing). Further improvement and standardization of the muscle ultrasound technique is necessary. The aim of the study. To improve the method of QMUS echogenicity analysis. Material and methods. 15 children with myopathy and 25 healthy children were examined. The QMUS and liver echogenicity analysis (grayscale analysis with ImageJ program) was performed to all children, the protocol included both the proximal (Infraspinatus, Biceps, Vastus lateralis) and distal (Brachioradialis, Tibialis anterior, Gastrocnemius) muscles of the upper and lower extremities. The Philips EPIQ5 ultrasound system and linear sensor 18 MHz were used. The image gain setting was the same throughout all studies. To unify the approach to QMUS, the muscle index (MI) was developed, which is the ratio of the muscle mean echo intensity to the liver mean echo intensity. Statistical analysis was performed. Results. The normative data of MI in children were obtained. The significant increase of MI in children with myopathy was found in comparison with the control group. Conclusions. Our data show the need for further study of muscle ultrasound in children with different types of neuromuscular pathology.