Musculoskeletal Biopsy

Muscle biopsy is a procedure used to diagnose diseases that affect muscle tissue. It consists of extracting tissues and cells from a specific muscle and examining them under a microscope.

Muscle biopsies can be done to diagnose neuromuscular disorders, infections that affect the muscle, and other abnormalities in muscle tissue. Here are some of the conditions that can be diagnosed with a muscle biopsy:

Muscular dystrophy ("MD"). Broad term for a genetic (inherited) muscle disorder. Muscular dystrophy affects skeletal muscles and other organ systems. Over time, the muscles degenerate and are replaced by fatty deposits. There are many different types of muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The most common form of muscular dystrophy. Usually, DMD affects only males.

Becker muscular dystrophy. Similar to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), but it is usually milder and symptoms appear later in life.

Trichinosis. Infection caused by a parasite that lives in raw meat. Symptoms may include muscle pain.

Toxoplasmosis Infection caused by a parasite that invades the tissue and can damage the central nervous system, especially in babies.

Myasthenia gravis (MG). A complex autoimmune disorder in which antibodies destroy neuromuscular connections. This causes problems with the nerves that communicate with the muscles. MG affects the voluntary muscles of the body, especially the eyes, mouth, throat, and extremities.

Polymyositis. Chronic disease that affects the skeletal muscles.

Dermatomyositis Collagen metabolism disorder that causes inflammation of the skin, muscles, and subcutaneous tissue, often leading to muscle weakness.

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, ALS is a disease that attacks the nerves that control voluntary muscle movement and, over time, causes paralysis.

Friedreich's ataxia. An inherited genetic disorder that affects balance and coordination.

Your doctor may recommend a muscle biopsy for other reasons.