Basophilic degeneration of skeletal muscle in hypothyroid myopathy. Histochemical and ultrastructural studies
Ho, K.L.
Archives of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine 108(3): 239-245
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0003-9985 PMID: 6546512 Document Number: 237704
Morphologic and histochemical studies of basophilic degeneration (BD) of skeletal muscle were performed on a 64-year-old woman with hypothyroid myopathy. The BD had staining characteristics of polysaccharide and similarity to the deposits described in cardiac muscle in five of six muscle groups studied and was absent in the diaphragm. The frequent occurrence of BD at the myotendinous junction suggested the necessity of including this area in muscle biopsy specimens of suspected hypothyroid myopathy. Review of the literature indicated a need for more detailed examination of muscle specimens of these patients to determine the clinical implication and biochemical nature of the BD. To my knowledge, the demonstration of a close association of BD and leptomeres and the presence of crystalline structures within the BD have not been described previously.