CT-scanning of skeletal muscle in arthrogryposis multiplex congenita

CT-scanning of skeletal muscles was performed on 14 patients with arthrogryposis multiplex congenita (AMC), according to an eight-slice protocol. Adipose tissue replacement and atrophy of muscles was found in six patients with neurogenic or myopathic origin of AMC, associated with severe muscle weakness. In the remaining patients with other forms of AMC, in which muscle weakness was less marked or absent, muscular CT-scanning was normal. It is stated that muscular CT-scanning is not a routine investigation in a screening procedure of all cases of AMC. However, CT-scanning appears to be useful in cases of severe AMC with associated muscle weakness in detecting the neurogenic and myopathic forms. It also facilitates the selection of a suitable site for EMG and biopsy and may provide important information for orthopaedic management.