Ann Rehabil Med.  2016 Oct;40(5):878-884. 10.5535/arm.2016.40.5.878.

Ultrasonographic Measurement of Thickness of the Thyrohyoid Muscle: A Pilot Study

Affiliations
  • 1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea. starhoon3@hanmail.net

Abstract


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the normal thickness of the thyrohyoid muscle, which is one of the key muscles related to swallowing, by ultrasonography.
METHODS
The thickness of the left and right thyrohyoid muscles was measured in normal male and female adults ranging in age from 20 to 79 years by ultrasonography. The groups were classified according to age as follows: subjects ranging in age from 20 to 39 years were classified into group A, subjects ranging in age from 40 to 59 years were classified into group B, and subjects ranging in age from 60 to 79 years were classified into group C. The measurement level was the line that joins the upper tip of the superior thyroid notch and the oblique line of the thyroid cartilage. Also, a correlation with the thyrohyoid muscle was investigated by collecting information regarding height, weight, body mass index (BMI), age, and gender of subjects in the healthy group.
RESULTS
The number of subjects in each group was as follows: group A (n=82), group B (n=62), and group C (n=60). Also, the thicknesses of the left and right muscles were 2.72±0.65 mm and 2.87±0.76 mm in group A, 2.83±0.61 mm and 2.93±0.67 mm in group B, and 2.59±054 mm and 2.73±0.55 mm in group C, respectively. Thyrohyoid muscle had a correlation with height, weight, and BMI. The thickness of the left and right thyrohyoid muscles was greater in male subjects than in female subjects and the right side muscle was thicker than the left side muscle.
CONCLUSION
The average thickness of the left and right thyrohyoid muscles was 3.20±0.54 mm in male subjects and 2.34±0.37 mm in female subjects. The thickness of the thyrohyoid muscle was positively correlated with height, weight, and BMI, and the thyrohyoid muscle was thicker in male subjects than in female subjects and the right side muscle was thicker than the left side muscle.

Keyword

Deglutition disorders; Neck muscles; Ultrasonography

MeSH Terms

Adult
Body Weight
Deglutition
Deglutition Disorders
Female
Humans
Male
Muscles
Neck Muscles
Pilot Projects*
Thyroid Cartilage
Thyroid Gland
Ultrasonography

Figure

  • Fig. 1 (A) Measurement of the thyrohyoid muscle thickness (A, tip of the mandibular body; B, hyoid bone; C, upper margin of the thyroid cartilage; D, confirms location during measurement of the thyrohyoid muscle). (B) Head and neck position during measurement of the thyrohyoid muscle. Vertical line which connects the lower margin of the mandibular body tip and the hyoid bone must be perpendicular to the horizontal line which connects the upper margin of the thyroid cartilage and the hyoid bone.

  • Fig. 2 Axial (A) and longitudinal (B) probe locations and correlated ultrasonographic findings of the right thyrohyoid muscle in a normal subject (a 42-year-old healthy male). The subject weighed 60 kg and thyrohyoid muscle thickness was 2.8 mm. A, sternohyoid muscle; B, thyrohyoid muscle; C, thyroid cartilage; D, superior thyroid notch; E, upper margin of the thyroid cartilage; F, hyoid bone.

  • Fig. 3 Axial (A) and longitudinal (B) ultrasonographic findings of the right thyrohyoid muscle in a 45-year-old male patient with dysphagia after 3 months from the left middle cerebral artery infarction. The patient weighed 59 kg and muscle thickness was 1.7 mm. Thickness was decreased compared with that in a healthy male. A, sternohyoid muscle; B, thyrohyoid muscle; C, thyroid cartilage; D, superior thyroid notch; E, upper margin of the thyroid cartilage; F, hyoid bone.

  • Fig. 4 Correlations (A) between height and thyrohyoid muscle depth, (B) between weight and thyrohyoid muscle depth.

  • Fig. 5 (A) Expected average thickness (mm) of the left and right thyrohyoid muscles based on weight (kg) of male subjects using linear regression analysis. The muscle thickness was increased in proportion to the weight increase. (B) Expected average thickness (mm) of the left and right thyrohyoid muscles based on weight (kg) of female subjects using linear regression analysis. The muscle thickness increased in proportion to the weight increase.


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