{Reference Type}: Clinical Trial
{Title}: Tongue electrical impedance myography correlates with functional, neurophysiologic, and clinical outcome measures in long-term oropharyngeal cancer survivors with and without hypoglossal neuropathy: An exploratory study.
{Author}: Hansen NJ;Woodman K;Buoy S;Mao S;Barbon CEA;Lai SY;Fuller CD;Hutcheson KA;Sanchez B;
{Journal}: Head Neck
{Volume}: 46
{Issue}: 3
{Year}: 2024 03 22
{Factor}: 3.821
{DOI}: 10.1002/hed.27618
{Abstract}: This pilot study analyzed correlations between tongue electrical impedance myography (EIM), standard tongue electromyography (EMG), and tongue functional measures in N = 4 long-term oropharyngeal cancer (OPC) survivors.<BR>Patients were screened for a supportive care trial (NCT04151082). Hypoglossal nerve function was evaluated with genioglossus needle EMG, functional measures with the Iowa oral performance instrument (IOPI), and multi-frequency tissue composition with tongue EIM.<BR>Tongue EIM conductivity was higher for patients with EMG-confirmed cranial nerve XII neuropathy than those without (p = 0.005) and in patients with mild versus normal EMG reinnervation ratings (16 kHz EIM: p = 0.051). Tongue EIM correlated with IOPI strength measurements (e.g., anterior maximum isometric lingual strength: r2  = 0.62, p = 0.020).<BR>Tongue EIM measures related to tongue strength and the presence of XII neuropathy. Noninvasive tongue EIM may be a convenient adjunctive biomarker to assess tongue health in OPC survivors.