MR Imaging in Idiopathic Inflammatory Polymyositis: Case Report and Review of Literature

Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies (IIM) are a group of rare autoimmune disorder which present clinically with proximal muscle weakness. Diagnosis of IIM involves clinical history, pathological investigation, imaging studies and histologic examination. It shows muscle weakness on Electromyography (EMG) and increased level of muscle enzymes. MRI is very useful to demonstrate the soft tissue and muscle changes in the IIM. MRI of whole body, especially peripheral limbs show typical findings which help in diagnosis, extent and severity of disease as well as follow up. We report a case of 31-year-old male who came with complaint of muscle weakness since six months. The level of Creatinine Phosphokinase (CPK) was high. MRI of both upper and lower limbs showed diffuse symmetrical altered signal intensities involving the muscles of both upper and lower limbs. Biopsy was advised which was positive for idiopathic inflammatory polymyositis.