Functional alterations of muscle perfusion in type II muscle atrophy: demonstration by lower extremity perfusion scans.

Significant progress in the clinical assessment of peripheral vascular disease has resulted from the use of radionuclide scans to evaluate alterations of blood flow through small vessels. Two patients with Type II muscle atrophy and normal vessels on muscle biopsy were examined; abnormal lower extremity perfusion scans were obtained after the administration of 99mTc-labeled human albumin microspheres directly into the femoral arteries. These case studies illustrate the use of this technique for delineating muscle groups affected by a myopathic process. Muscle perfusion scans can be used as an aid in selecting biopsy sites and may provide a means of following the response to therapy.