Skeletal muscle ultrasound: correlation between fibrous tissue and echo intensity

Ultrasound Med Biol. 2009 Mar;35(3):443-6. doi: 10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2008.09.016. Epub 2008 Dec 10.

Abstract

In this study, we examined the correlation between muscle ultrasound and muscle structure. Echo intensity (EI) of 14 muscles of two golden retriever muscular dystrophy dogs was correlated to the percentage interstitial fibrous tissue and fat in muscle biopsy. A significant correlation between interstitial fibrous tissue and EI was found (r = 0.87; p < 0.001). The separate influence of interstitial fat on muscle EI could not be established as only little fat was present. We conclude that fibrous tissue causes increased muscle EI. The high correlation between interstitial fibrous tissue and EI makes ultrasound a reliable method to determine severity of structural muscle changes.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adipose Tissue / diagnostic imaging
  • Adipose Tissue / pathology
  • Animals
  • Biopsy
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dogs
  • Fibrosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Fibrosis / pathology
  • Male
  • Muscle, Skeletal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Muscle, Skeletal / pathology
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Muscular Dystrophy, Animal / pathology
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Ultrasonography