Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Skeletal muscle ultrasonography: Visual versus quantitative evaluation.

Sigrid Pillen1, Mieke van Keimpema, Rutger A J Nievelstein

  • 1Department of Clinical Neurophysiology, Institute of Neurology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. s.pillen@cukz.umcn.nl

Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology
|September 13, 2006
PubMed
Summary

Quantitative ultrasound analysis of skeletal muscle is more sensitive and objective for diagnosing neuromuscular disorders in children. This method offers higher accuracy for screening compared to visual evaluation.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The impossible hustle, sustaining pediatric radiology research amidst clinical demands: insights from a European society of pediatric radiology research committee survey.

Pediatric radiology·2026
Same author

Radiation-free assessment of the 3D morphology of the adolescent scoliotic spine: a feasibility study using MRI derived quantitative synthetic CT.

Spine deformity·2026
Same author

Early Detection of Acute and Early-Onset Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Dysfunction in Children With Cancer Using a Multiparametric Approach: Methodological Aspects of the EARLY Study.

Cancer medicine·2026
Same author

Application of artificial intelligence in paediatric oncology imaging.

Pediatric radiology·2026
Same author

Conserved sleep disturbances in FOXP1 syndrome originate from developmental dysregulation of peptidergic signaling.

The Journal of clinical investigation·2026
Same author

Development of the first prediction model for radiation-induced contrast enhancement after proton therapy for posterior fossa tumours in paediatric patients.

Radiotherapy and oncology : journal of the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology·2025

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Neurology
  • Medical Imaging
  • Biomedical Engineering

Background:

  • Neuromuscular disorders (NMDs) in children require accurate and early diagnosis.
  • Skeletal muscle ultrasound (US) is a valuable tool, but evaluation methods vary.
  • Standard visual assessment may lack objectivity and optimal sensitivity.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the diagnostic performance of visual versus quantitative skeletal muscle ultrasound.
  • To assess sensitivity, specificity, and interobserver agreement between methods.
  • To determine the most effective US evaluation technique for pediatric NMD screening.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound scans of four key muscles were performed on 76 children with suspected NMD.
  • Images underwent both visual assessment (Heckmatt criteria) and quantitative analysis (computer-assisted grey-scale).

Related Experiment Videos

  • Sensitivity, specificity, and interobserver agreement (kappa) were calculated for each method.

    • Main Results:

    • Visual evaluation achieved 71% sensitivity and 92% specificity.
    • Quantitative analysis yielded 87% sensitivity and 67% specificity, with adjustable diagnostic values.
    • Quantitative method showed significantly higher interobserver agreement (kappa 0.86 vs. 0.53).

    Conclusions:

    • Quantitative echo intensity analysis of skeletal muscle ultrasound is more objective and sensitive.
    • This quantitative approach is superior for screening children suspected of NMD.
    • Higher sensitivity makes quantitative US ideal for the initial diagnostic phase in pediatric NMD.