Use of MRI for the early diagnosis of masticatory muscle myositis

J Am Anim Hosp Assoc. 2013 Sep-Oct;49(5):347-52. doi: 10.5326/JAAHA-MS-5915. Epub 2013 Jul 16.

Abstract

The medical records of two dogs that were diagnosed with masticatory muscle myositis (MMM) were reviewed. The reported clinical signs included intense pain when opening the mouth and restricted jaw movement. MRI detected widespread, symmetrical, and inhomogeneously hyperintense areas in the masticatory muscle. Electromyography (EMG) demonstrated severe and spontaneous pathologic activity in the temporal and masseter muscles. With early therapeutic treatment, remission of symptoms occurred within 2 mo, and no relapses were observed for the subsequent 2 yr. The gold standard for the diagnosis of MMM is the 2M antibody test, but the purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of MRI as an accurate and efficient diagnostic tool for the initiation of early therapy for the treatment of muscle myositis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Clindamycin / therapeutic use
  • Dog Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Dog Diseases / drug therapy
  • Dog Diseases / pathology
  • Dogs
  • Early Diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Immunosuppressive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / veterinary*
  • Masticatory Muscles / pathology*
  • Myositis / diagnosis
  • Myositis / drug therapy
  • Myositis / pathology
  • Myositis / veterinary*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Immunosuppressive Agents
  • Clindamycin