Diagnosis of Myositis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms. It is especially important to describe the exact location of any pain or weakness and duration of the disease. Your doctor will also review your medical history and current medications.
Then the doctor will examine you and pay special attention to your muscles and nerves. As you find your doctor may order diagnostic tests. Common tests used to diagnose muscle problems include:
- Blood tests that measure levels of muscle enzymes, autoantibodies (antibodies directed against its own cells or organs of the body) and antibodies to infectious agents loa.
- An electromyogram, a test that measures the electrical activity of muscles.
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a painless test that can identify an abnormal muscle, and can be used to locate the best place to perform a biopsy and a diagnosis or monitor the progress of an unknown type of myositis.
- A standard x-ray x-ray or bone if your doctor suspects you have myositis ossificans.
- A computed tomography (CT) or MRI if pyomyositis is suspected.
- A muscle biopsy, a test in which the doctor takes a sample of muscle tissue for study under a microscope. Muscle biopsy is the best way to establish the diagnosis of myositis biopsy, it could be a diagnosis if it shows a clear muscle inflammation. However, the results are not always abnormal even in people with myositis.