Computed tomographic patterns of muscles in neuromuscular diseases

Computed tomographic (CT) scans of muscle in 35 patients with neuromuscular diseases showed distinct patterns in nerve and muscle diseases. Neural diseases first showed as muscle atrophy, with decreased density in the muscles occurring later in the course of disease. Primary muscle diseases showed early decreased density in the muscles, with atrophy occurring later. The CT scan allows objective assessment of muscle mass and may be used to help select muscles for biopsy.