Quantitative ultrasound of submental and masticatory muscles in children with cerebral palsy.

Purpose: Quantitative muscle ultrasound (QMUS) is potentially valuable as a diagnostic tool in central neurological disorders, as it provides information about changes in muscle architecture. This study aimed to investigate whether ultrasound images of the submental and masticatory muscles in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP) differ from those obtained in a reference group, and whether observed ultrasound abnormalities differ between subgroups of children with different Eating and Drinking Ability Classification System (EDACS) levels to support its construct validity.

Methods: A prospective cohort study was conducted in 25 children with spastic CP aged 3-18 years. QMUS of selected muscles was performed. Muscle thickness and echogenicity in the CP group were compared to previously collected reference values, and between different EDACS levels within the CP group.

Results: Median echogenicity of all muscles was significantly higher in children with CP than in healthy controls. The temporalis muscle was significantly thinner in the CP group. There were no differences in muscle thickness or echogenicity between EDACS levels.

Conclusion: QMUS is able to detect abnormal architecture of submental and masticatory muscles in children with spastic CP, but the interpretation of abnormalities in relation to the severity of mastication and swallowing problems needs further investigation.