Electrodiagnostic Approach to the Patient with Suspected Myopathy

Electrodiagnostic testing is a useful component of the approach to a patient with suspected myopathy. It follows the history and is guided by the neurologic examination findings. Uncovering various electrodiagnostic patterns (eg, fibrillation potentials with short-duration motor unit potentials, short-duration motor unit potentials without fibrillation potentials, myotonic discharges, and short-duration motor unit potentials with complex repetitive discharges) can lead to more targeted laboratory testing and a refined differential diagnosis. Electromyography may also be used to detect subclinical myopathy, assess disease activity, and help select a suitable muscle for biopsy.