Quantitative muscle ultrasonography in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

In this study, we examined whether quantitative muscle ultrasonography can detect structural muscle changes in early-stage amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Bilateral transverse scans were made of five muscles or muscle groups (sternocleidomastoid, biceps brachii/brachialis, forearm flexor group, quadriceps femoris and anterior tibialis muscles) in 48 patients with ALS. Twenty-five patients were also screened for fasciculations. Quantitative analysis revealed a significant increase in echo intensity in all muscles and a decrease in muscle thickness of the biceps brachii, forearm flexors and quadriceps femoris on both sides. Fasciculations were easy to detect in multiple muscles of all screened patients except one. We conclude that quantitative ultrasonography can be used to detect muscle changes caused by ALS in an early phase of the disease. (E-mail: m.zwarts@neuro.umcn.nl).