A small study used tongue ultrasound to measure atrophy in ALS
Original source
Quantitative Assessment of Tongue Atrophy in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Using Transoral Tongue Ultrasonography (TOTU): A Retrospective Single-Center Study. (opens in a new tab)Compass summarised this from the study's abstract.
Study details
- Studied in
- Human
Population inferred from the title and abstract by Compass.
A retrospective study used transoral tongue ultrasonography to measure tongue size in 15 people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and 15 controls. Tongue area and thickness were lower in the ALS group, and the measurements distinguished the groups in statistical analyses.
Why this matters
This imaging method could provide a rapid, noninvasive way to quantify tongue atrophy and assess bulbar involvement. The findings do not yet show that it improves treatment or outcomes, and the study does not establish how well the method works over time or in routine clinical care.
Limitations and context
The study was retrospective, cross-sectional and conducted at a single centre with 30 participants. It assessed group discrimination but did not establish clinical benefit, longitudinal usefulness or treatment effects. Associations with disease duration and ALS Functional Rating Scale-Revised scores were not significant. Larger studies in broader populations are needed.