MUS-ALS Meta
(2026)Objective
To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of muscle ultrasonography for detecting fasciculations as a diagnostic tool for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, by pooling sensitivity and specificity across published studies.
Study Summary
• Compared ultrasound against electromyography or clinical diagnostic criteria as reference standards
• Specific pooled sensitivity, specificity, and confidence interval values are not reported in the available source text
Intervention
Muscle ultrasonography for detection of fasciculations as a diagnostic test for ALS, compared with electromyography or clinical criteria.
Inclusion Criteria
Published studies assessing the diagnostic accuracy of muscle ultrasonography for detecting fasciculations in the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Study Design
Arms: Muscle ultrasonography vs electromyography or clinical diagnostic criteria (diagnostic accuracy comparison; per-study patient counts not reported in source)
Patients per Arm: Not reported in source
Outcome
• Numeric pooled estimates and confidence intervals are not provided in the available source text
Bottom Line
This systematic review and meta-analysis pooled the sensitivity and specificity of muscle ultrasonography for detecting fasciculations in ALS, compared with electromyography or clinical criteria; specific pooled accuracy estimates are not reported in the available source text.
Major Points
- Systematic review and meta-analysis evaluating muscle ultrasonography for detecting fasciculations as a diagnostic tool in ALS.
- Pooled sensitivity and specificity across published studies were the primary accuracy measures.
- Ultrasound performance was benchmarked against electromyography or clinical diagnostic criteria.
- Numeric pooled estimates, confidence intervals, and number of included studies are not provided in the available source text.
Study Design
- Study Type
- Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
- Randomization
- No
Primary Outcome
Definition: Pooled diagnostic accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of muscle ultrasonography for detecting fasciculations in the diagnosis of ALS, versus electromyography or clinical criteria
| Control | Intervention | HR/OR | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|
| - |
Citation
Journal of Neurology. April 2026. DOI: 10.1007/s00415-026-13775-4. PMID: 41940896.