Could Muscle Ultrasound Help Diagnose IBM? New Study Explores the Possibility
Diagnosing IBM is notoriously difficult. Symptoms develop slowly, look like normal aging, and can be confused with other muscle diseases. The average diagnostic delay is 5-10 years. While muscle MRI is increasingly used in diagnosis, it is expensive and not always accessible. A new study asks whether a simpler, cheaper imaging tool — muscle ultrasound — could help.
What the Researchers Did
A team from Sapienza University and Sant'Andrea Hospital in Rome published a study in Muscle & Nerve (July 2026) examining whether muscle ultrasound can detect the characteristic pattern of muscle involvement in IBM and how it compares to MRI.
The study included 13 patients with biopsy-confirmed IBM. Each patient underwent:
• Clinical evaluation including the IBM Functional Rating Scale (IBM-FRS) and manual muscle strength testing
• Muscle ultrasound of 14 muscles on both sides of the body, using both qualitative (Heckmatt scale, grades 1-4) and quantitative (echo-intensity and thickness z-scores) measures
• Lower limb muscle MRI using T1-weighted (with Mercuri score) and STIR sequences
What They Found
The ultrasound showed increased echogenicity (brightness on the scan, indicating muscle damage) in the muscles typically affected by IBM:
• Flexor digitorum profundus (deep finger flexors — explains difficulty gripping)
• Vastus lateralis and rectus femoris (quadriceps — explains difficulty climbing stairs and rising from chairs)
• Tibialis anterior (shin muscle — explains foot drop)
• Medial gastrocnemius (calf muscle)
Both the qualitative Heckmatt scores and the quantitative echo-intensity scores showed significant positive associations with MRI T1 Mercuri scores (p < 0.001), meaning that ultrasound findings tracked closely with MRI findings.
What This Means
This is a small study (13 patients), and the results need to be confirmed in larger groups. But the findings suggest that muscle ultrasound — which is faster, cheaper, and more widely available than MRI — could be a useful tool in the IBM diagnostic workup.
For patients, this could mean earlier and more accessible diagnosis. Ultrasound can be performed in a clinic visit without the need for a separate MRI appointment, and it does not involve the same cost or accessibility barriers.
The researchers concluded that "both qualitative and quantitative muscle ultrasound reflected the characteristic pattern of muscle involvement in IBM and showed associations with MRI findings, supporting their utility in describing the pattern and extent of muscle damage."
If you are being evaluated for IBM, ask your neurologist or neuromuscular specialist whether muscle ultrasound is available at your institution. It may complement or in some cases substitute for MRI in assessing muscle involvement.
Source
• Di Pietro G, Falco P, Costanzo R, Galosi E, De Stefano G, Evangelisti E, Lauletta A, Leone C, Litewczuk D, Di Stefano G, Truini A, Garibaldi M. "Muscle Ultrasound in Inclusion Body Myositis: Integrating Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches With Clinical and MRI Findings." Muscle & Nerve. 2026 Jul;74(1):131-138. doi: 10.1002/mus.70259. PMID: 42046250.
Tags
Related Reading
- Early Stage Tips — Exercise, energy conservation, and specialist directories
- Bathroom & Toileting — Equipment, bidets, and transfer techniques
- Travel Tips — Airlines, hotels, and emergency preparedness
- General Tips — Insurance, disability benefits, and support groups