JUM
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by O’Sullivan, P. J.
Right arrow Articles by Logan, P. M.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by O’Sullivan, P. J.
Right arrow Articles by Logan, P. M.
© 2006 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
J Ultrasound Med 25:1-6 • 0278-4297

Sonographically Guided Percutaneous Muscle Biopsy in Diagnosis of Neuromuscular Disease

A Useful Alternative to Open Surgical Biopsy

Paul J. O’Sullivan, FFR, RCSI, Grainne M. Gorman, MRCPI, Orla M. Hardiman, MRCPI, Michael J. Farrell, FRCP and P. Mark Logan, FFR, RCSI

Departments of Academic Radiology (P.J.O., P.M.L.), Neurology (G.M.G., O.M.H.), and Neuropathology (M.J.F.), Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.

Address correspondence to Paul J. O’Sullivan, FFR, RCSI, Department of Radiology, Chest Division, Vancouver General Hospital, 899 W 12th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9, Canada. E-mail: paul.osullivan{at}vch.ca

Objective. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of sonographically guided percutaneous muscle biopsy in the investigation of neuromuscular disorders. Methods. Sonographically guided percutaneous needle biopsy of skeletal muscle was performed with a 14-gauge core biopsy system in 40 patients over a 24-month period. Patients were referred from the Department of Neurology under investigation for neuromuscular disorders. Sonography was used to find suitable tissue and to avoid major vascular structures. A local anesthetic was applied below skin only. A 3- to 4-mm incision was made. Three 14-gauge samples were obtained from each patient. All samples were placed on saline-dampened gauze and sent for neuropathologic analysis. As a control, we retrospectively assessed results of the 40 most recent muscle samples acquired via open surgical biopsy. Results. With the use of sonography, 32 (80%) of 40 patients had a histologic diagnosis made via percutaneous needle biopsy. This included 26 (93%) of 28 patients with acute muscular disease and 6 (50%) of 12 patients with chronic disease. In the surgical group (all acute disease), 38 (95%) of 40 patients had diagnostic tissue attained. Conclusions. Sonographically guided percutaneous 14-gauge core skeletal muscle biopsy is a useful procedure, facilitating diagnosis in acute muscular disease. It provides results comparable with those of open surgical biopsy in acute muscular disease. It may also be used in chronic muscular disease but repeated or open biopsy may be needed.

Key Words: core • biopsy • muscle • needle • percutaneous • sonography

Abbreviations: ALS, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis • PPS, postpolio syndrome

HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2006 by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine.