What is focal myositis?

What is focal myositis?

Background: Focal myositis is an uncommon inflammatory pseudotumor of skeletal muscle that can be confused with a variety of neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. It is often misunderstood because it presents as a tumor-like mass, but histologically resembles a skeletal muscle myopathy or dystrophy.

How is focal myositis treated?

Focal myositis resolves spontaneously within a few months to a few years, but rarely can recur. Steroid or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are commonly used for treatment. In progressive diseases, immunosuppressive therapy or radiation therapy may be useful.

What causes focal myositis?

Possible causes include trauma (20%), genetic factors (that remain unknown), viral infections and autoimmune disease. Some regard focal myositis as a localized form of polymyositis.

What is iliopsoas myositis?

Myositis is the early stage of muscular infection. It is characterized by diffuse muscular pain and swelling without a distinct mass. Early diagnosis of myositis improves the outcome and surgical debridement is usually avoided. Pyomyositis, the advanced stage of the disease, can be diagnosed by MRI examination.

What is nodular myositis?

Abstract. Localized nodular myositis (LNM) is a rare variant of polymyositis beginning with inflammatory nodules within muscles. Only seven cases have so far been reported in the literature.

What does myositis look like on MRI?

Inclusion body myositis presents with specific inclusions of amyloid-β protein and is refractory to treatment. Focally increased signal is seen on STIR and fat-saturated gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images, predominantly in the anterior thigh compartment.

Can you live a normal life with myositis?

While sporadic inclusion body myositis is a progressive disease, life expectancy for those with sIBM is usually the same as for those without the disease. In fact, IBM patients usually don’t die from the disease, but from complications (often preventable) that are associated with it.

How do you diagnose myositis?

Muscle and skin biopsy are often the most definitive way to diagnose myositis diseases. Small samples of muscle tissue show abnormalities in muscles, including inflammation, damage, and abnormal proteins. For those with skin symptoms, doctors often biopsy a bit of skin to examine for characteristic abnormalities.

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