The feasibility of using ultrasonography imaging for documentation and analysis of tongue muscles and hyoid bone movements in nasopharyngeal cancer survivors

Abstract

Ultrasonography measures, compared to current instrumental measures, has the advantage of being non-invasive and radiation-free. However, there are no studies investigating on them for impaired tongue and hyoid bone movements in nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) survivors. Hence, the feasibility of using ultrasonography imaging to document and analyze tongue muscle movements and hyoid bone elevation as a potential assessment tool for NPC survivors is examined in this study. Twenty-three healthy and thirteen NPC participants were recruited. Ultrasonographic measurements (speech and swallowing movement displacement measures, swallowing time displacement) were conducted while participants performed a series of speech and swallowing tasks. Participants also recorded spontaneous and structured speech samples, and completed a MD Anderson dysphagia inventory questionnaire (MDADI). Changes in tongue and hyoid bone movements during speech and swallowing were documented and analyzed using a grid system, with high intra-rater reliability (78%). No significant group differences were noted between healthy and NPC survivors (p>0.05). Weak correlations were observed between ultrasonographic measures and speech and swallowing functions for both populations. The results supported feasibility in using ultrasonography as an alternative tool in visualizing and analyzing tongue and hyoid bone movements in the NPC survivors, though further validation is required for clinical uses.