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A muscle biopsy is the removal of a small piece of muscle tissue for examination.
How the Test is Performed
This procedure is usually done while you are awake. The health care provider will apply a numbing medicine (local anesthesia) to the biopsy area.
There are 2 types of muscle biopsy:
- A needle biopsy involves inserting a needle into the muscle. When the needle is removed, a small piece of tissue remains in the needle. More than one needle stick may be needed to get a large enough sample.
- An open biopsy involves making a small cut in the skin and into the muscle. The muscle tissue is then removed.
After either type of biopsy, the tissue is sent to a laboratory for examination.
How to Prepare for the Test
No special preparation is usually needed. If you will have anesthesia, follow instructions on not eating or drinking anything before the test.
How the Test will Feel
During the biopsy, there is usually little or no discomfort. You may feel some pressure or tugging.
The anesthetic may burn or sting when injected (before the area becomes numb). After the anesthetic wears off, the area may be sore for about a week.
Why the Test is Performed
A muscle biopsy may be done to identify or detect:
- Inflammatory diseases of muscle (such as polymyositis or dermatomyositis )
- Diseases of the connective tissue and blood vessels (such as polyarteritis nodosa)
- Infections that affect the muscles (such as trichinosis or toxoplasmosis )
- Inherited muscle disorders such as muscular dystrophy or congenital myopathy
- Metabolic defects of the muscle
- Effects of medicines, toxins, or electrolyte disorders
A muscle biopsy may also be done to tell the difference between nerve and muscle disorders.
A muscle that has recently been injured, such as by an EMG needle, or is affected by a pre-existing condition, such as nerve compression, is not a good choice for a biopsy.
Normal Results
A normal result means the muscle is normal.
What Abnormal Results Mean
A muscle biopsy can help diagnose the following conditions:
- Loss of muscle mass ( atrophy)
- Muscle disease that involves infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation and a skin rash ( dermatomyositis )
- Inherited muscle disorder ( Duchenne muscular dystrophy )
- infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">Inflammation of the muscle
- Various muscular dystrophies
- Destruction of the muscle ( myopathic changes )
- Tissue death of the muscle (necrosis)
- Disorders that involve infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।" data-rx-term="inflammation" data-rx-definition="Inflammation is the body’s response to injury, infection, or irritation, often causing pain, swelling, heat, or redness. সহজ বাংলা: শরীরের প্রদাহ; ব্যথা, ফোলা বা লালভাব হতে পারে।">inflammation of the blood vessels and affect muscles ( necrotizing vasculitis )
- Traumatic muscle damage
- Paralyzed muscles
- Inflammatory disease causing muscle weakness, swelling pain when an area is touched or pressed. সহজ বাংলা: চাপ দিলে ব্যথা।" data-rx-term="tenderness" data-rx-definition="Tenderness means pain when an area is touched or pressed. সহজ বাংলা: চাপ দিলে ব্যথা।">tenderness, and tissue damage ( polymyositis )
- Nerve problems that affect the muscles
- Muscle tissue under the skin (fascia) becomes swollen, inflamed, and thick ( eosinophilic fasciitis )
There are additional conditions under which the test may be performed.
Risks
The risks of this test are small, but may include:
- Bleeding
- Bruising
- Damage to the muscle tissue or other tissues in the area (very rare)
- Infection (a slight risk any time the skin is broken)
