Quantitative three-dimensional ultrasound imaging of partially resected tongues

OBJECTIVE: We Sought to assess the impact of partial lateral glossectomies on tongue function and speech. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Tongue shapes of 12 patients with lateral tumors of the tongue were recorded with three-dimensional ultrasound before their surgery and two months after. Twelve normal participants served as controls. Speech acceptability was also assessed. RESULTS: Principal component analyses demonstrated that the flap reconstructions led to a stiffening of the operated side of the tongue. A concavity index and an asymmetry index demonstrated that the glossectomy patients exhibited decreased midsagittal g a rooving and increased lingual asymmetry. The change in midsagittal grooving correlated moderately with the decrease in speech acceptability. CONCLUSION: A lateral partial glossectomy affects the tongue's intrinsic deformation, in particular midsagittal grooving and symmetry. This can have a detrimental effect for speech. SIGNIFICANCE: A lateral resection affects the tongue's symmetry and midsagittal groove. The change in midsagittal grooving correlates with a decrease in speech acceptability. (C) 2007 American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundation. All rights reserved.