Rhabdomyolysis: magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography findings

• Published in: Journal of computer assisted tomography Vol. 31; no. 3; p. 368
• Main Authors: Lu, Chia-Hung, Tsang, Yuk-Ming, Yu, Chih-Wei, Wu, Mu-Zon, Hsu, Chao-Yu, Shih, Tiffany Ting-Fang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2007
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Female; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Male; Middle Aged; Retrospective Studies; Rhabdomyolysis - diagnosis; Rhabdomyolysis - diagnostic imaging; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 0363-8715
• DOI: 10.1097/01.rct.0000250115.10457.e9

Our purpose was to describe the magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and computed tomography (CT) findings in patients with rhabdomyolysis. The medical records and imaging studies of 10 patients (5 males, 5 females; age range, 14-60 years; mean age, 28.3 years) with rhabdomyolysis were retrospectively reviewed. Magnetic resonance imaging was available in 9 patients and CT in 2 patients. Two distinct imaging types of rhabdomyolysis were observed. For type 1 rhabdomyolysis (n = 2), the affected muscles revealed homogeneously isointense to hyperintense on T1-weighted, homogeneously hyperintense on T2-weighted and short-tau inversion recovery (STIR) images, and homogeneously enhanced on contrast-enhanced MR images. For type 2 rhabdomyolysis (n = 8), the affected muscles revealed homogeneously or heterogeneously isointense to hyperintense on T1-weighted images, heterogeneously hyperintense on T2-weighted and STIR images, heterogeneously hypodense on CT images, and rim enhanced on contrast-enhanced MR and CT images with the presence of a specific presentation, named as the "stipple sign." Rhabdomyolysis is a clinical and biochemical syndrome comprising 2 distinct imaging types. Homogeneous signal changes and enhancement in the affected muscles advocate type 1 rhabdomyolysis. The stipple sign is helpful in demonstrating the areas of myonecrosis in type 2 rhabdomyolysis and, together with clinical and laboratory presentations, in reaching the correct diagnosis.