Myotubular myopathy is one of many neuromuscular diseases. It manifests as a cessation or arrest of muscle development at the myotubular stage of development or at about 8-15 weeks gestational age. Diagnosis is possible prenatally due to the characteristic decrease in movement of the fetus. The arrest is related to the failure of vimentin and desmin to decrease in amount and results in a flaw in the structure of the muscles. Myotubular myopathy also is referred to as centronuclear myopathy. The most common form of myotubular myopathy is X-linked and therefore manifests only in boys; other forms of transmission are believed to exist, but less is known about these forms. Even for the X-linked form, there is evidence of some heterogeneity in the transmission and penetrance with a range of gene mutations. There is no research to suggest that myotubular myopathy is more likely to occur in any one ethnic group.