Ultrasonography of the internal architecture of the superficial part of the masseter muscle in vivo

Abstract

It is unclear whether the deep inferior tendon (DIT) is equally present in vivo, and little anatomical information is available regarding the existence and morphology of the DIT in healthy young subjects. The aim of this study was to characterize the DIT of the masseter muscle in healthy young subjects using ultrasonography and to compare the morphology of this tendon with previously reported data for healthy young subjects in order to provide the most-effective injection methods for botulinum neurotoxin treatments of masseteric hypertrophy. This study investigated two fresh cadavers and 30 healthy subjects. Ultrasonography scanning in both longitudinal and transverse directions was applied to the masseter muscle. The DIT within the superficial part of the masseter was observed in both the fresh cadavers and the living subjects. The posterior region of the masseter muscle was compartmentalized (entirely covered) by the DIT in 26.7% of the specimens. The superficial part of the masseter muscle was divided by the DIT transversely and longitudinally into the superficial and deep muscle bellies in 35% and 38.3% of the specimens, respectively. The present findings suggest applying a DIT-based injection technique under guidance by ultrasonography prior to treating masseteric hypertrophy.