Ultrasonographic Evaluation of Oral Submucous Fibrosis and Masseteric Hypertrophy

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the efficacy of ultrasonography (USG) as a non-invasive tool in assessing the severity of oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and also to assess the relationship between OSMF and hypertrophy of the masseter muscle. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The submucosal thickness in buccal mucosa and masseteric muscle hypertrophy were measured using ultrasound (10-15 MHz) in 60 patients comprising 30 OSMF patients and 30 controls. RESULTS: Results were analyzed by one way analysis of variance, Chi-square test and t-test. As the stages of OSMF advanced there was an increase in submucosal thickness of the buccal mucosa as well as masseter muscle thickness in both relaxed and contracted state in the study group when compared with controls (P < 0.005). CONCLUSION: USG is an effective non-invasive zero radiation tool for assessing the progression of OSMF.