Brain Sciences (Oct 2023)

Usefulness and Clinical Impact of Whole-Body MRI in Detecting Autoimmune Neuromuscular Disorders

  • Mario Pace,
  • Roberto Cannella,
  • Vincenzo Di Stefano,
  • Antonino Lupica,
  • Paolo Alonge,
  • Giulio Morici,
  • Filippo Brighina,
  • Federica Brancato,
  • Federico Midiri,
  • Massimo Galia

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci13101500
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 10
p. 1500

Abstract

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Autoimmune neuromuscular diseases are a group of heterogenous pathologies secondary to the activation of the immune system that damage the structures of the peripheric nerve, the neuromuscular junction, or the skeleton muscle. The diagnosis of autoimmune neuromuscular disorders comprises a combination of data from clinical, laboratory, electromyography, imaging exam, and biopsy. Particularly, the whole-body MRI examination in the last two decades has been of great use in the assessment of neuromuscular disorders. MRI provides information about the structures involved and the status of activity of the disease. It can also be used as a biomarker, detect the pattern of specific muscle involvement, and is a useful tool for targeting the optimal muscle site for biopsy. In this work, we summarized the most used technical protocol of whole-body MRI and the role of this imaging technique in autoimmune neuromuscular disorders.

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