The Significance of Target Fibers: A Clinicopathologic Review of 100 Patients with Neurogenic Atrophy

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Abstract
Target fibers were found in the muscle biopsies from 47 of 100 patients with histopathologic evidence of neurogenic muscular atrophy. Three biopsy specimens with abundant target fibers were also studied by electron microscopy. The duration of clinical symptoms prior to biopsy, electromyographic findings, and serum muscle enzyme levels (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine phosphokinase, and aldolase) were correlated with the presence of target fiber formation. Target fibers are thought to be a manifestation of early denervation, but are only a crude indication of the clinical duration of the underlying disease. Trichrome and particularly the phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin stains are adequate for demonstrating target fibers in paraffin-embedded muscle biopsy specimens.

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