%0 Journal Article
%T First Evaluation of Zygomaticus Major Muscle Elastic Properties Using a US Elastography Technique
%A Redouane Ternifi
%A Philippe Pouletaut
%A St¨¦phanie Dakp¨¦
%A Sylvie Testelin
%A Bernard Devauchelle
%A Fabrice Charleux
%A Jean-Marc Constans
%A Sabine F. Bensamoun
%J Journal of Biomedical Science and Engineering
%P 459-468
%@ 1937-688X
%D 2019
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/jbise.2019.1211037
%X Facial expressions are linked to movements of muscles, which can be altered by pathological diseases. Assessment of facial muscle deficits is subjective (palpation) and operator-dependent, and these deficits are currently estimated with clinical scales. Thus, the quantification of facial muscle elastic properties is a key for the clinical adaption and evaluation of treatments for facial paralysis. We herein present a novel application of shear wave elastography (SWE) based on an ultrasound protocol to assess the morphological (thickness and texture) and elastic (Young¡¯s modulus) properties of the zygomaticus major (ZM) muscle. Fifteen healthy volunteers underwent SWE tests, and the ultrasound acquisitions were obtained using a new linear transducer (SLH20-6, spatial resolution: 38 ¦Ìm) and compared to those obtained using an SL10-2 probe (spatial resolution: 50 ¦Ìm). The probe position was placed along the muscle fiber orientation. A semi-automatic method was developed to quantify the ZM muscle elasticity, and the repeatability was analyzed at one-week intervals. The mean elasticity for the two probes was about 15 kPa. The SLH20-6 probe yielded a higher mean elasticity (approximately 6 kPa) and less homogeneous echogenicity than the SL10-2 probe. Two distinct groups of texture profiles as a function of the transducer were obtained. This study will provide some guidance for clinical practices and will allow the construction of a reference database that could be used to evaluate treatments and develop numerical models of facial expression.
%K Facial Muscle
%K Shear Wave Elastography
%K Zygomaticus Major
%K Texture Analysis
%K Ultrasound
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=96470