Magnetic resonance imaging for adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: A scoping review of protocols, grading systems and applications
An erratum to this article was published (Semin Arthritis Rheum, Feb 2026 ↗)
Authors' conclusion
In summary, despite the clinical utility of MRI for IIM, significant methodological variability remains.
Study context
- Population
- Adults with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
- Participants
- 2,810 adults49 studies
- Outcome
- MRI techniques, protocols and grading systems in adult IIM literature
Methodological detailssystematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane, 2000–2024
- Systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane, 2000–2024
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Studies evaluating whole-body MRI
- 13
- Studies evaluating dedicated body-part MRI
- 36
- Semi-quantitative visual grading (most common assessment method)
- 31/49, 63.2 %
- Binary scoring, among semi-quantitative visual grading studies
- 23/31
- Software-assisted or automated techniques, among semi-quantitative visual grading studies
- 8/31
- Studies using descriptive analysis alone
- 6
- Studies reporting inter-rater agreement
- 15
- Inter-rater agreement, muscle edema: ICC range
- 0.78-1.00
- Inter-rater agreement, muscle edema: kappa range
- 0.30-1.00
- Inter-rater agreement, fat replacement of skeletal muscle: ICC range
- 0.77-0.97
- Inter-rater agreement, fat replacement of skeletal muscle: kappa range
- 0.54-0.93
Original publication
Magnetic resonance imaging for adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: A scoping review of protocols, grading systems and applications. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 7 November 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →