Comparison between tongue volume from magnetic resonance images and tongue area from profile cephalograms

The aim of this study was to measure lingual volume and to correlate it with and predict it from the area of the radiographic shadow of the tongue as well as with demographic and biometric characteristics. In 70 healthy subjects (35 males and 35 females) aged between 20 and 37 years, tongue volume was determined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Volumes were correlated with the area of the tongue on the sagittal plane determined from the lingual shadow on profile cephalometric radiographs. Demographic and biometric characteristics were also available for each subject. The mean lingual volume was 79.5 +/- 14.2 cm(3) and was gender dependent. The mean lingual volume was 89.9 +/- 11.5 and 68.9 +/- 7.0 cm(3) in males and females, respectively. Correlations between tongue volume and body height, weight, and the body mass index (BMI) were highly significant. A strong correlation (r = 0.83, P < 0.001) was found between lingual volume measured using MRI and the radiographically determined area of the lingual shadow. The associated regression line allowed the area of the lingual shadow to be used to estimate the corresponding tongue volume in individual subjects. Multiple regression analysis showed that lingual volume was best predicted by the lingual shadow, gender, age, and BMI (R(2) = 0.80).