Ultrasonographic features of the masseter muscle in female patients with temporomandibular disorder associated with myofascial pain.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of the present study was to examine ultrasonographic appearances in female patients with temporomandibular disorder (TMD) associated with myofascial pain in comparison with healthy volunteers.


METHODS
The thickness of the masseter muscle in 25 female patients with TMD was measured at rest and at maximum contraction using ultrasonography. The visibility and width of the internal echogenic bands of the masseter muscle were also assessed and the muscle appearance was classified as 1 of 3 types: type I, characterized by the clear visibility of the fine bands; type II, thickening and weakened echo-intensity of the bands; type III, disappearance or reduction in number of the bands.


RESULTS
There were significant differences in the thickness at rest and the increase ratio by contraction between the patient and control groups. The distribution of muscle types showed a significant difference between the 2 groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The ultrasonographic features of the masseter muscle in TMD patients with myofascial pain were clarified and they might be related to muscle edema.
Ariji
Yoshiko
Y
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Aichi-Gakuin University School of Dentistry, Nagoya, Japan. yoshiko@dpc.aichi-gakuin.ac.jp
Sakuma
Shigemitsu
S
Izumi
Masahiro
M
Sasaki
Jun
J
Kurita
Kenichi
K
Ogi
Nobumi
N
Nojiri
Minori
M
Nakagawa
Masayoshi
M
Takenaka
Makoto
M
Katsuse
Seiji
S
Ariji
Eiichiro
E
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001732:Bite Force; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004487:Edema; D004576:Electromyography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015588:Observer Variation; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013706:Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014463:Ultrasonography