DefinePK

Abstract

Introduction: Ultrasonography (USG) serves as a valuable, non-invasive tool to monitor these changes, providing insights into the muscle’s structure and function. The normal thickness of the masseter muscle differs by gender, with males generally having thicker muscles both at rest and during contraction compared to females. Oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF), a potentially malignant disorder, significantly increases the risk of oral cancers, particularly squamous cell carcinoma.
Aims and objective: To evaluate the difference in cross-sectional thickness and internal echogenic pattern of masseter muscle at rest and at maximum clenching position using ultrasonography in chronic areca nut /tobacco chewers, OSMF patients and control groups.         
Materials and methods: The study participants were categorized into three groups with 75 partcipants ,consisting of 25 participants each with the following conditions; Group 1 with chronic chewers, group 2 with OSMF and group 3 with healthy individuals as controls. An ultrasonographic examination of masseter was performed in all subjects for masseter muscle thickness and echogenic pattern, the echogenic pattern was classified into Types I, II and III. Differences in masseter muscle thickness and echogenic pattern between study groups and control group was evaluated.
Results: the age group were between 20 and 50 years of age with significant male predominance. The thickness of the masseter muscle was significantly greater in chronic chewers, both in the relaxed and contracted states, on both sides, when compared to both the OSMF group and the control group. In contrast, the OSMF group exhibited a decrease in masseter muscle thickness compared to the control group.
Conclusion: The findings revealed a statistically significant increase in masseter muscle thickness in chronic chewers, both in the relaxed and contracted states, on both sides, when compared to both OSMF patients and the control group. A slight muscle atrophy that is decrease in the muscle thickness was observed in OSMF patients in comparison to the control group