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 quantify cross-sectional area and tissue composition within the geniohyoid (GH) muscle in normal adults and head and neck cancer patients. METHODS: B-mode ultrasound was used to measure GH cross-sectional area at rest and during four speech gestures and GH tissue composition at rest in normal young adults, patients with SCC head and neck cancer treated with primary radiotherapy, and normal older adults age matched with the patients. RESULTS: Patients exhibited significantly greater GH cross-sectional area than young subjects at rest and in effortful conditions. Significantly greater muscle tissue variability across GH quadrants was observed in patients compared with normal subjects and in older compared with younger subjects. CONCLUSIONS: B-mode ultrasound area analyses and tissue classification techniques can be used to quantify muscle changes, such as those resulting from age, radiotherapy, or rehabilitation for head and neck cancer.