Polymyositis: Diagnostic Tests

Obligatory medical device diagnostics.

  • Electromyography (EMG; measurement of muscle electrical activity)/nerve conduction velocity – to detect a change in electrical activity in the muscle.
  • Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; computer-assisted cross-sectional imaging method (using magnetic fields, i.e., without X-rays); particularly well suited for imaging soft tissue injuries) – to find the right sampling site for biopsy, because the changes are detectable only in the affected muscles
  • Sonography (ultrasound examination) of the muscles – to detect muscle swelling and irregularities of muscle fibers.
  • Organ diagnostics – also the muscles of the heart, lungs, esophagus (esophagus), gastrointestinal tract (gastrointestinal tract) may be affected.