Muscle ultrasound in children: normal values and application to neuromuscular disorders

In this study, 105 healthy children (45 to 156 months old, 57 girls) were examined using ultrasound (US) imaging to obtain reference values of muscle dimensional and aspect parameters. We measured biceps and quadriceps sizes and subcutaneous tissue thickness. To quantify muscle aspect, we calculated...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Ultrasound in medicine & biology Vol. 30; no. 8; p. 1017
Main Authors:	Maurits, Natalia Maria, Beenakker, Ernesto Alexander Christiaan, van Schaik, David Eric Christiaan, Fock, Johanna Maria, van der Hoeven, Johannes Harmen
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England 01-08-2004
Subjects:	Adolescent Arm - diagnostic imaging Child Child, Preschool Female Humans Male Muscle, Skeletal - diagnostic imaging Neuromuscular Diseases - diagnostic imaging Predictive Value of Tests Reference Values Thigh - diagnostic imaging Ultrasonography
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Summary:	In this study, 105 healthy children (45 to 156 months old, 57 girls) were examined using ultrasound (US) imaging to obtain reference values of muscle dimensional and aspect parameters. We measured biceps and quadriceps sizes and subcutaneous tissue thickness. To quantify muscle aspect, we calculated muscle density, inhomogeneity and white-area index by digital image analysis. Age-, weight- and gender-dependencies were discussed. We demonstrated earlier that the complete set of parameters allows for differentiation between myopathies and neuropathies in adults, with high sensitivity. In this study, we investigated if these parameters have additional value in the diagnostic evaluation of 36 children with proven neuromuscular disease (20 Duchenne muscular dystrophy, 16 neuropathies). We found that density analysis provides a sensitive method for distinguishing between healthy children and children with neuromuscular disorders. We have also found that more detailed aspect analysis is necessary to further distinguish between these types of neuromuscular disorders in children. In conclusion, this set of normal muscle parameters can be used to help diagnose neuromuscular disorders in children. It will also facilitate follow-up in disease progression and therapy.
ISSN:	0301-5629
DOI:	10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2004.05.013