Secondary MR Imaging Features of Nerve Damage: Muscle Denervation

Abstract

Although electromyography is the gold standard for diagnosing muscle denervation, the role of muscle magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the diagnosis of muscle denervation has gained clinical relevance. The MR imaging examination of newly denervated musculature shows edema. Conventional and quantitative muscle MR imaging techniques allow for the detection of subclinical disease progression as well as amelioration of the secondary features of nerve damage. In this review article, we present and discuss recent data on the role of conventional and quantitative MR imaging in the diagnosis and monitoring of muscle denervation as sequela of nerve damage.

Keywords: MR imaging; Muscle; Muscle denervation; Muscular atrophy; Pattern recognition.