Assessment of Sonoelastography as Diagnosis Tool of Inflammatory Myopathies

Abstract

Background: Inflammatory myopathies represent a special group of pathology. Establishing the correct diagnosis in the early phase and a better follow-up are the main objective for improving the life quality of these patients. Objective: The aim of this research was to assess the usefulness of sonoelastography in diagnosis of inflammatory myopathies. Material and Method: A prospective longitudinal study with a control group was carried out in the Radio-Imaging Department, Cluj-Napoca District University Hospital, Romania, from May 2007 to July 2010. Measurements: Image Processing 2.8 software was used to analyze the elastographic images in correlation with clinical and biochemical data was used. Results: Analysis of Receiver Operating Characteristic curves statistics for elastography parameters showed significant values for the following parameters: average green color, average blue color, average intensity of color, dispersion of red, dispersion of green, and dispersion of hue. Conclusions: Our study highlighted the utility of some elastography parameters in the diagnosis of inflammatory myopathies; the parameter proved to be statistically different in case group compared to control. Anyway, standardization of sonoelastography and larger studies are required to ensure accurate diagnosis, reproductibility and reliability.