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Updated: May 9, 2026
Obtaining Quality Extended Field-of-View Ultrasound Images of Skeletal Muscle to Measure Muscle Fascicle Length
Published on: December 14, 2020
Quantitative facial muscle ultrasound: feasibility and reproducibility
Nens Van Alfen1, H Jacobus Gilhuis, Jurre P Keijzers
1Department of Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Introduction:
In this study we describe a protocol for quantitative ultrasound of facial muscles (procerus, zygomaticus major, levator labii superior, depressor anguli oris, mentalis, orbicularis oris pars labialis, orbicularis oris pars marginalis).
Methods:
Muscle thickness (MT) and echo intensity (EI) were measured in 12 healthy subjects and a myotonic dystrophy type 1 patient.
Results:
MTs ranged from 0.15 to 0.30 mm, except for the procerus muscle (0.06 mm). EIs ranged from 1 to 34, except for the procerus muscle. MT reproducibility was fair for the orbicularis oris pars labialis, excellent for the procerus and levator labii, and good for the other muscles. The myotonic dystrophy type 1 patient showed high EIs, outside the range in healthy subjects in 6 of the 7 muscles. MT was lower than the range seen in healthy subjects in 4 muscles.
Conclusion:
Quantitative muscle ultrasound of the facial muscles is feasible and shows moderate to excellent reproducibility.
