Diagnostic Imaging of Inflammatory Myopathies: New Concepts and a Radiological Approach.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review article is to highlight the current role of diagnostic imaging in the assessment of inflammatory myopathies. RECENT FINDINGS: Recent research demonstrates that imaging plays an important role in evaluating patients with symptoms of an inflammatory myopathy. In general, MRI is the pivotal imaging modality for assessing inflammatory myopathies, revealing precise anatomic details because of changes in the signal intensity of the muscles. Whole-body MR imaging has become increasingly important over the last several years. US is also a valuable imaging modality for scanning muscles. Together with the clinical history, familiarity with the imaging features of inflammatory myopathies is essential for formulating an accurate diagnosis.

Radiologic Manifestations of Musculoskeletal Sarcoidosis.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The purpose of this review article is to present the spectrum of abnormalities and multi-modality imaging evaluations in patients with musculoskeletal sarcoidosis. RECENT FINDINGS: The articular manifestations of sarcoidosis are difficult to distinguish from those of the other inflammatory and degenerative arthropathies, and the muscular lesions in sarcoidosis are generally clinically silent and therefore often missed. Magnetic resonance imaging has shown these manifestations to be very common in active sarcoidosis, and should thus be included in the screening if musculoskeletal sarcoidosis is suspected. The clinician should consider magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of patients with sarcoidosis who have unexplained osteoarticular complaints if standard radiographs are negative. Furthermore, radiologists should include sarcoidosis in the differential diagnosis of musculoskeletal disease detected at magnetic resonance imaging in the appropriate clinical setting.