Ultrasonic quantification of geniohyoid cross sectional area and tissue composition: A preliminary study of age and radiation effects

Background. This study developed and used a new, noninvasive approach to qu antify cross-sectional area and tissue composition within the geniohyoid (G H) muscle in normal adults and head and neck cancer patients. Methods. B-mode ultrasound was used to measure GH cross-sectional area at r est and during four speech gestures and GH tissue composition at rest in no rmal young adults, patients with SCC head and neck cancer treated with prim ary radiotherapy, and normal older adults age matched with the patients. Results. Patients exhibited significantly greater GH cross-sectional area t han young subjects at rest and in effortful conditions. Significantly great er muscle tissue variability across GH quadrants was observed in patients c ompared with normal subjects and in older compared with younger subjects. Conclusions. B-mode ultrasound area analyses and tissue classification tech niques can be used to quantify muscle changes, such as those resulting from age, radiotherapy, or rehabilitation for head and neck cancer. (C) 2001 Jo hn Wiley & Sons, Inc.