Objective: To demonstrate an automated ultrasound-based method for real-time visualization of neck muscles in cervical dystonia.

Background: Understanding of the pattern and extent of muscle involvement is essential to optimal assessment and treatment of people with cervical dystonia. In particular, these factors are critical to such treatment strategies as botulinum toxin injections. However, physical examination may be limited in assessment of deeper neck muscles, and methods such as EMG provide functional but not structural information.

Methods: We performed MRI and ultrasound imaging of the posterior neck muscles in healthy control participants and people with isolated idiopathic cervical dystonia. These data were used to create a model for neck muscle structure in both groups of participants, using principal components analysis.

Results: Using real-time ultrasound we are able to objectively define neck muscle structure and anatomy in both participant groups.

Conclusions: We plan to develop this methodology to provide a real-time tool for identification of neck muscles in people with cervical dystonia. This has potential implications for improved localization of botulinum toxin injections in this condition.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/real-time-ultrasound-for-automated-analysis-and-visualization-of-neck-muscles-in-cervical-dystonia/