Protocol: Mapping Muscle Ultrasound for Myosteatosis and Muscle Quality Across the Lifespan
This registered scoping review protocol plans to map evidence on muscle ultrasound for myosteatosis and muscle quality across the lifespan, with emphasis on children with metabolic risk. No results are reported yet. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
The protocol aims to map muscle ultrasound evidence for myosteatosis and muscle quality across the lifespan, emphasising children with metabolic risk. [1]
Eligible studies must report at least one ultrasound measure interpreted as muscle fat infiltration, muscle composition or muscle quality. [1]
The protocol was registered prospectively in the Open Science Framework. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Scoping review protocol (abstract)
- Population / context
- Children, adolescents and adults, healthy or with metabolic, neuromuscular, neurodegenerative or functional conditions, in studies eligible for the planned review.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Publication status
- Preprint · peer-review status not confirmed
- Original publication
- September 29, 2026
Planned lifespan map of muscle ultrasound
The protocol notes that myosteatosis, fat infiltration of skeletal muscle, has been studied mainly in ageing, sarcopenia and functional decline. It says emerging evidence suggests altered muscle quality may emerge earlier, particularly in paediatric groups with metabolic risk. The planned review aims to map evidence on muscle ultrasound for myosteatosis and muscle quality across the lifespan, with emphasis on children with metabolic risk. It also aims to describe differences in methods, analysis and normalisation strategies, the biological meaning of ultrasound measures, and knowledge gaps.
Supporting source [1]
Eligibility and planned search sources
Studies of children, adolescents and adults, healthy or with metabolic, neuromuscular, neurodegenerative or functional conditions, are eligible if they report at least one ultrasound measure interpreted as muscle fat infiltration, muscle composition or muscle quality. Eight databases are named, including MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus and LILACS, plus grey-literature sources and citation searching. Two reviewers will screen records independently and in duplicate, and data will be charted in a piloted spreadsheet. Findings will be presented descriptively, with no meta-analysis and no formal risk-of-bias assessment.
Supporting source [1]
Protocol status and stated relevance
This is a protocol, not a completed review: it reports planned methods and no findings. It was registered prospectively in the Open Science Framework, with a registration DOI given. The authors state the review would provide the first lifespan map of muscle ultrasound for myosteatosis and muscle quality, with particular relevance for resource-limited and Latin American settings. The abstract also notes that ultrasound use is methodologically heterogeneous and that the biological construct behind echo intensity remains uncertain.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is a scoping review protocol, so no results, effect estimates or conclusions are reported. The abstract states that no meta-analysis and no formal risk-of-bias assessment will be undertaken.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Puelles-Diaz A, Garcia-Leal H, Gonzalez-Aroca J. · europepmc.org · September 29, 2026