title: Ultrasonographic Measurement of Thickness of the Thyrohyoid Muscle: A Pilot Study.
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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Ji Hwan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-5921-3084
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cheon
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Du Hyeon
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-7360-8699
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Nam
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Howard
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1123-9485
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong Youl
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5740-1468
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Youn Kyung
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4906-6089
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Cho
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Eun Young
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6805-5727
authors.initials: EY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Kwangju Christian Hospital, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung Hoon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2071-7936
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Deglutition disorders; Neck muscles; Ultrasonography