Visual evaluation for the elasticity of suprahyoid muscles using sonographic elastography during tongue pressure measurement: A pilot study

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Hayashi-Sakai, Sachiko^a; | Kobayashi, Taichi^b | Hayashi, Takafumi^b | Shimomura-Kuroki, Junko^a | Sakai, Jun^c | Sakamoto, Makoto^d

Affiliations: [a] Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Niigata, Japan | [b] Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan | [c] Department of System and Automotive Engineering, Niigata College of Technology, Niigata, Japan | [d] Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Sachiko Hayashi-Sakai, Department of Pediatric Dentistry, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata 951-8580, Japan. E-mail: sakais@ngt.ndu.ac.jp

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Suprahyoid muscles behavior during the tongue lifting movement has not yet been elucidated. OBJECTIVE:The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential of elastography imaging to examine developmental oral dysfunction in children and oral hypofunction in older adults using sonography. METHODS:Tongue pressure was measured using a manometer with a probe. The tongue pressure was measured with simultaneously scanning the geniohyoid muscle (GHM) and the anterior belly of the digastric muscle (DGM) using sonographic elastography. Sagittal images of the GHM and coronal images of the DGM were used for the strain ratio measurement. The strain ratio of the muscles was measured three times for each subject with the tongue pressure values of 0–30 kPa. RESULTS:The strain ratio of the GHM were higher than those of the DGM at tongue pressure of 10, 20 and 30 kPa. The strain ratio of the GHM increased as the tongue pressure increased in all participants. In contrast, the strain ratio of the DGM tended to slowly decrease as tongue pressure increased in female participants. CONCLUSION:Sonographic elastography is useful for visual and quantitative evaluation of elastic properties in suprahyoid muscles during tongue lifting movements.

Keywords: Suprahyoid muscles, tongue pressure, elasticity, sonographic elastography, strain ratio

DOI: 10.3233/BME-221414

Journal: Bio-Medical Materials and Engineering, vol. 34, no. 2, pp. 159-168, 2023