[MR-tomography and -spectroscopy of skeletal muscles using high magnetic field strengths]

Intact as well as neuromuscular affected skeletal muscles can be precisely analysed by MR tomography with high magnetic field strengths. The substitution of muscle by adipose tissue under atrophic conditions is seen most clearly in fat images, while the morphology of small structures is predominantly shown by water images. The aim of in-vivo spectroscopy is an identification and quantification of metabolites. A relative increase in the amount of adipose tissue within atrophic muscles was confirmed by the 1-H spectrum. As concluded from 13-C and 31-P spectra there was neither a change in adipose tissue composition nor a modification of energy metabolism.