Visualization and quantification of tongue movement during articulation: Is ultrasound a valid alternative to magnetic resonance imaging?

Background: Quality of life in tumour patients following combined ablative and reconstructive head and neck surgery varies significantly. This is at least partially due to differences in speech and swallowing function. A tool to objectively evaluate articulation by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has now been tested alongside ultrasound examination.

Tongue movement during articulation in magnetic resonance imaging: Findings in 20 healthy volunteers and a patient with anterior floor of the mouth squamous cell carcinoma.

Purpose: Combined ablative and reconstructive oral maxillofacial surgery involves a multitude of anatomical and functional structures for speech and swallowing. Although there are a few methods to objectively examine swallowing function, this is not true for speech. We describe the development of an objective visualization and measurement tool for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to evaluate speech and its first application in a patient.