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Updated: Apr 14, 2026
3D Ultrasound Imaging: Fast and Cost-effective Morphometry of Musculoskeletal Tissue
Published on: November 27, 2017
Qualitative Ultrasound in Acute Critical Illness Muscle Wasting
Zudin A Puthucheary1, Rahul Phadke, Jaikitry Rawal
11Institute of Health and Human Performance, University College London, London, United Kingdom. 2Centre of Human and Aerospace Physiological Sciences, Kings College London, London, United Kingdom. 3Division of Respiratory and Critical Care, University Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore. 4University College London Institute of Neurology, National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom. 5Hepatology and Gastroenterology, St Mary's Hospital, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom. 6Institute of Liver Studies, Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. 7Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom. 8King's College London School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom. 9Guy's and St Thomas' and King's College London, NIHR Comprehensive Biomedical Research Centre, London, United Kingdom.
Objectives:
A rapid and early loss of skeletal muscle mass underlies the physical disability common amongst survivors of critical illness. However, skeletal muscle function depends not only on its quantity but its quality, which may be adversely affected. We set out to characterise the changes in macroscopic muscle echogenicity and fascial characteristics that occur early in critical illness, and to relate these to microscopic histologically defined myofibre necrosis and fascial pathology.
Design And Setting:
Prospective two center observational study.
Patients:
Thirty subjects comprising a subgroup of patients recruited to the Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Critical Illness: Longitudinal Evaluation (MUSCLE) study.
Measurements And Main Results:
Comparisons were made between sequential Vastus Lateralis histological specimens and ultrasound assessment of Rectus Femoris echogenicity. Change in muscle echogenicity was greater in patients who developed muscle necrosis (n = 15) than in those who did not (8.2% [95% CI, -5.3 to 21.7] vs -15.0% [95% CI, -28.9 to -1.09]; p = 0.016). The area under receiver operator curve for ultrasound echogenicity's prediction of myofiber necrosis was 0.74 (95% CI, 0.565 to 0.919; p = 0.024) increasing to 0.85 (95% CI, 0.703 to -0.995; p = 0.003) with the removal of those with potential iatrogenic muscle damage. Fasciitis was observed in 18 of 30 biopsies (60%).
Conclusions:
Myofiber necrosis and fascial inflammation can be detected noninvasively using ultrasound in the critically ill. Fasciitis precedes and frequently accompanies muscle necrosis. These findings may have functional implications for survivors of critical illness.
