title: Unilateral hypoplasia with contralateral hypertrophy of anterior belly of digastric muscle: a case report.
abstract: Anomalies of the anterior belly of the digastric muscle (DM) are uncommon. We present a case of hypoplasia of the anterior belly of the left DM with hypertrophy of the anterior belly of the contralateral DM. The importance of recognizing this finding is to differentiate hypoplasia of the anterior belly of the DM from denervation atrophy, and not to confuse contralateral hypertrophy with a submental mass or lymphadenopathy. In denervation atrophy of the anterior belly of the DM, associated atrophy of the ipsilateral mylohyoid muscle is present. Hypertrophy of the anterior belly of the contralateral DM can be differentiated from a submental mass or lymphadenopathy by recognizing its isodensity on computed tomography and isointensity on magnetic resonance imaging to other muscles, without abnormal contrast enhancement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Neuroradiology Section, Hospital Pablo Tobón Uribe, Calle 78B # 69-240, Medellín, Colombia. martin127d@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ochoa-Escudero
authors.affiliation: Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
authors.forename: Amy F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Juliano
mesh_terms: D003714:Denervation / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D000072281:Lymphadenopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008410:Masticatory Muscles / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009133:Muscular Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Anterior belly; Digastric muscle; Hypertrophy; Hypoplasia
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