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Diagnostic Value of Real‐time Sonoelastography in Congenital Muscular Torticollis
Author(s) -
Kwon Dong Rak,
Park Gi Young
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of ultrasound in medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.574
H-Index - 91
eISSN - 1550-9613
pISSN - 0278-4297
DOI - 10.7863/jum.2012.31.5.721
Subject(s) - sternocleidomastoid muscle , medicine , muscle group , nuclear medicine , anatomy , physical therapy
Objectives The purpose of this study was to evaluate the possible use of real‐time sonoelastography in infants with congenital muscular torticollis for predicting treatment outcomes. Methods The study included 20 infants with a sternocleidomastoid muscle thickness of greater than 10 mm, a sonoelastographic score of 4, and involvement of the entire length of the muscle (group 1) and 30 infants with a sternocleidomastoid muscle thickness of less than 10 mm, a sonoelastographic score of 3, and involvement of only part of the muscle (group 2). A physiatrist performed B‐mode sonography and sonoelastography together, measured the thickness of the sternocleidomastoid muscle, and calculated the cross‐sectional area of the involved muscle in both groups. On color scale sonoelastography, the sonoelastographic score of the sternocleidomastoid muscle was graded from 1 (purple to green: soft) to 4 (red: stiff), and the color histogram of the muscle was subsequently analyzed. Results The thickness and cross‐sectional area of the sternocleidomastoid muscles in group 1 were significantly greater than those in group 2 ( P = .001). On the color histograms, the median red pixel values in group 1 were significantly greater than those in group 2 ( P = .001). In group 1, the mass in the affected muscle completely disappeared in 16 infants (80%), and a residual mass was detected in 4 (20%) on B‐mode sonography at the final outcome. However, in group 2, the mass in the affected sternocleidomastoid muscle completely disappeared in all of the infants. Conclusions These findings suggest that real‐time sonoelastography, although an ancillary technique to conventional sonography, may predict treatment outcomes of congenital muscular torticollis.