Skeletal Muscle Biopsy

Purpose of the test

Skeletal muscle biopsy is an important diagnostic tool in the investigation of neuromuscular diseases. It can also be useful in the diagnosis of some systemic diseases or of certain diseases of the central nervous system. For many patients with neuromuscular disorders, the skeletal muscle biopsy will be the criterion on which management decisions are made in the majority of cases. The diagnosis of muscle disease depends upon close collaboration and understanding between physician and histopathologist.

We have over 20 years experience of providing histopathological reports on skeletal muscle biopsies and currently receive muscle biopsies from hospitals in South London, Kent, Surrey and Sussex. All skeletal muscle biopsies routinely undergo staining for morphology, glycogen, oxidative enzymes, ATPase for fibre typing and histomorphometric analysis by computer-assisted image analysis. Further enzyme histochemical staining, immunohistochemical staining (including comprehensive dystrophy panels) and electron microscopy are performed when clinically indicated.

Sample Requirements

The Histopathology department must be contacted to arrange mutually suitable times for the biopsy to be taken. Details of courier to be used should be given if the patient is to be biopsied off site.

The clinician in charge and the surgeon should select the muscle to be biopsied jointly. Either a needle biopsy or an open muscle biopsy is acceptable. Grossly weak or wasted muscles should be avoided.

Storage and Transport

On removal from the patient, the muscle tissue should be placed in a dry specimen pot. A piece of dampened gauze should be placed in the pot to create a humid atmosphere. This should not actually touch the tissue. Open muscle biopsies may be stretched by applying sutures to the ends and attaching them to dental wax, but this is not essential.

Sample Dispatch : Important - please read

The biopsy and relevant patient data should then be dispatched to Histopathology, King's College Hospital as soon as possible with a note of the time that the biopsy was taken.
Please ask couriers to deliver directly to the department and not the main desk or Pathology reception.

3. The estimated arrival time of the biopsy should then be telephoned to Histopathology. Please Note : Time from excision to arrival at King's should be no more than 2hrs and sample MUST arrive by 5pm

Turnaround Time

We will provide a preliminary report within 2 weeks. The length of time from receipt to production of the final report will be determined by the complexity of the investigations required.

Clinical advice is always available from Dr Jon Salisbury.