Detection of myofascial trigger points in the masseter muscle using ultrasonography in patients with myogenous temporomandibular disorder

Natalie Hoi Ying Chan; Ching Kiu Ip; Dion Tik Shun Li; Yiu Yan Leung

doi:10.1016/j.oooo.2024.02.006

Detection of myofascial trigger points in the masseter muscle using ultrasonography in patients with myogenous temporomandibular disorder

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol. 2024 Feb 17:S2212-4403(24)00064-6. doi: 10.1016/j.oooo.2024.02.006. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Natalie Hoi Ying Chan¹, Ching Kiu Ip¹, Dion Tik Shun Li¹, Yiu Yan Leung²

Affiliations

¹ Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
² Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China. Electronic address: mikeyyleung@hku.hk.

PMID: 38485622
DOI: 10.1016/j.oooo.2024.02.006

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasonography (US) using gray scale B-mode and ultrasound elastography (UE) in detecting myofascial trigger points (MTPs) in the masseter muscles of patients with myogenous temporomandibular disorder (TMD).

Study design: A diagnostic cross-sectional study of patients with MTPs in the masseter muscles using US was conducted. The diagnostic results from the US examinations were compared with the clinical examination reference standard to determine the diagnostic efficacy of US. MTPs were detected as band-like hypoechoic localized areas with reduced vibration amplitude (stiffer) under US B-mode and UE imaging.

Results: In total, 116 sites from 29 patients (3 males, 26 females) with a mean age of 39.4 years were examined. US exhibited sensitivity of .946 (95% CI: .851-.989) and specificity of .900 (95% CI: .795-.962) in detecting MTPs when compared to the clinical examination. Diagnostic accuracy ranged from .902 to .950 when assuming 3 levels of myogenous TMD prevalence.

Conclusion: US B-mode and UE imaging exhibited diagnostic accuracy comparable to the standard clinical examination carried out by a trained specialist. It can be a reliable technique in the detection and localization of MTPs for the diagnosis of myogenous TMD and localization of MTPs for therapeutic purposes.