Gustav Andreisek MD, Presenter: Nothing to Disclose

Martin Kilgus, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Doris Burg, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Viktor Meyer, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Borut Marincek MD, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

Dominik Weishaupt, Abstract Co-Author: Nothing to Disclose

To correlate MR imaging findings with clinical findings and findings at electrodiagnostic studies, including motor and sensory conduction velocities and electromyography, in patients with clinical diagnosis of an atrophy of the muscles of the hand.

Eighteen hands of 16 consecutive patients with clinical diagnosis of an atrophy of the hand muscles were examined in this study. All patients underwent MR imaging in a 1.5 T scanner using T1, T2 weighted and STIR sequences, as well as contrast enhanced T1 weighted sequences. Two observers reviewed all muscles of the hand individually (Lumbrical muscles I-II and III-IV; dorsal and palmar interosseus muscles; abductor, flexor and opponens muscles of the small finger; flexor pollicis brevis, abductor, adductor and opponens muscles of the thumb) with regard to signal abnormalities and muscle atrophy. Muscle atrophy was graded using a three-point-score. The interobserver agreement was calculated. Based on a case-to-case basis, MR imaging findings were correlated with clinical findings and findings at electrodiagnostic studies using Spearman’s correlation test.

On MR imaging, an atrophy of the lumbricals I-II and III-IV were present in 1 and 4 of 18 hands respectively. Atrophy of the interossei dorsales muscles were seen in 7 hands and of the interossei palmares muscles in 6 hands. Atrophy or signal changes on T2 weighted images of the hypothenar muscles were present in 4 / 11 / 7 hands (Abductor / flexor / opponens digiti minimi muscles). In 5 / 3 / 4 / 4 hands an atrophy or signal abnormality of the thenar muscles were present (Flexor pollicis brevis / abductor / adductor / opponens pollicis muscles). The interobserver agreement was substantial to excellent for all evaluated individual muscles (kappa= 0.57 – 1.0). The MR imaging findings correlated well to the clinical findings (r = 0.56 – 0.86).

MR imaging findings correlates well with clinical history, physical examination and electrodiagnostic studies in patients with clinical diagnosis of an atrophy of the hand muscles.

Andreisek, G, Kilgus, M, Burg, D, Meyer, V, Marincek, B, Weishaupt, D, Atrophy of the Muscles of the Hand: Correlation of MR Imaging Findings and Clinical Findings.  Radiological Society of North America 2004 Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting, November 28 - December 3, 2004 ,Chicago IL. http://archive.rsna.org/2004/4409477.html