Upper girdle imaging in facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), the upper girdle is early involved and often difficult to assess only relying on physical examination. Our aim was to evaluate the pattern and degree of involvement of upper girdle muscles in FSHD compared with other muscle diseases with scapular girdle impairment.

Methods

We propose an MRI protocol evaluating neck and upper girdle muscles. One hundred-eight consecutive symptomatic FSHD patients and 45 patients affected by muscular dystrophies and myopathies with prominent upper girdle involvement underwent this protocol. Acquired scans were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

The trapezius (100% of the patients) and serratus anterior (85% of the patients) were the most and earliest affected muscles in FSHD, f

SUBMITTER: Tasca G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4059711 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature