Sonoelastography for the Assessment of Muscle Changes in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Results of a Pilot Study

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to assess the sonoelastographic features of four different muscles in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis compared with healthy controls and to evaluate the relationship of these features to muscle strength and other ultrasonographic variables. Fourteen patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and 20 controls were examined using strain sonoelastography scanning. The RGB channel fraction ratio was analyzed with ImageJ software (Version 1.48). Two main sonoelastographic patterns could be distinguished in the controls: a clear predominance of the blue channel (hard areas) and a more heterogeneous pattern with predominance of the green channel (intermediate stiffness). These patterns were also observed in patients, although a higher green channel score was observed in mildly impaired muscles, whereas a higher blue channel score was observed in the most severely impaired muscle. Sonoelastography may be a good complementary biomarker in the detection and monitoring of muscle changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.