Quantitative muscle ultrasound in Duchenne muscular dystrophy: A comparison of techniques

Irina Shklyar, Tom R. Geisbush, Aleksandar S. Mijialovic, Amy Pasternak, Basil T. Darras, Jim S. Wu, Seward B. Rutkove, Craig M. Zaidman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

55 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Muscle pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) can be quantified using ultrasound by measuring either the amplitudes of sound-waves scattered back from the tissue [quantitative backscatter analysis (QBA)] or by measuring these backscattered amplitudes after compression into grayscale levels (GSL) obtained from the images. Methods: We measured and compared QBA and GSL from 6 muscles of 25 boys with DMD and 25 healthy subjects, aged 2-14 years, with age and, in DMD, with function (North Star Ambulatory Assessment). Results: Both QBA and GSL were measured reliably (intraclass correlation≥0.87) and were higher in DMD than controls (P<0.0001). In DMD, average QBA and GSL measured from superficial regions of muscle increased (rho≥0.47, P<0.05) with both higher age and worse function; in contrast, GSL measured from whole regions of muscle did not. Conclusions: QBA and GSL measured from superficial regions of muscle can similarly quantify muscle pathology in DMD.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)207-213
Number of pages7
JournalMuscle and Nerve
Volume51
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2015

Keywords

  • Biomarker
  • Duchenne muscular dystrophy
  • Muscle
  • Myopathy
  • Ultrasound

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