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

Authors

Nathan J Hansen
Karin Woodman
Sheila Buoy
Shitong Mao
Carly E A Barbon
Stephen Y Lai
C David Fuller
Katherine A Hutcheson
Benjamin Sanchez

Publication Date

3-1-2024

Journal

Head & Neck

Abstract

Background: 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.

Methods: 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.

Results: 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).

Conclusions: 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.

Keywords

Humans, Electric Impedance, Hypoglossal Nerve Diseases, Muscle, Skeletal, Myography, Oropharyngeal Neoplasms, Outcome Assessment, Health Care, Pilot Projects, Survivors, Tongue, head and neck cancer, radiotherapy, lower cranial neuropathy, electrical impedance myography

DOI

10.1002/hed.27618

PMID

38133080

PMCID

PMC10922903

PubMedCentral® Posted Date

3-1-2025

PubMedCentral® Full Text Version

Author MSS

Published Open-Access

yes