title: The use of ultrasound in the investigation of the muscles of mastication.
abstract: The aim of this article was to review the literature concerning ultrasonography imaging (US) of the muscles of mastication and to discuss its use, advantages and disadvantages and the findings of the authors. A web search was performed using the terms "ultrasound" and "muscles". US has been shown to be a reliable method of great utility in the field of diagnosis of alterations in the muscles of mastication and for the study of changes during growth and aging. It should be preferred in comparison to computerized axial tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of its safety and cost advantages since it is as reliable and precise as these other techniques. Although various techniques have been used in ultrasonographic scanning, this article discusses those techniques most commonly adopted by the authors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry, State University of Campinas, Piracicaba Dental School, SP/Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcia Diaz
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Maria Beatriz
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Duarte Gavião
authors.forename: Marinês Nobre
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: dos Santos Uchôa
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008406:Masseter Muscle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D008409:Mastication / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013703:Temporal Muscle / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000502:physiology; D014463:Ultrasonography; D055815:Young Adult