Quantitative analysis of muscle biopsies from volunteers and patients with neuromuscular disorders. A comparison between estimation and measuring.

106 muscle biopsies from patients with neuromuscular diseases or symptoms were assessed by routine inspection and quantitative examination. Eighty-six specimens were classed as pathological on routine evaluation and 84 on quantitative examination. Eleven specimens that were pathological on routine evaluation were "missed' by quantitative examination. Nine judged normal on routine examination were pathological according to quantitative criteria. Relative measures including the coefficient of variance, the difference between type I and type II fibres, and the difference between fascicles proved valuable for distinguishing between normal and pathological specimens. Quantitative analysis is a valuable complementary method which improves the detection of pathological states in muscle.