INFLAMMATORY MYOPATHIES - RADIOLOGIC EVALUATION

Clinical evaluation of skeletal muscle in patients with inflammatory m yopathies (IM) has long been hampered by difficulty in assessing the m orphology and functional integrity of skeletal muscles. Advances in ra diologic techniques, particularly MR imaging, have improved the abilit y to manage patients with neuromuscular disease in general and IM in p articular. MR imaging can probe beyond the skin to identify focal musc le structural lesions, determine their extent, characterize their comp osition, direct invasive procedures, and monitor therapies. This artic le reviews the clinical, pathologic, and imaging aspects of these dise ases.