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

Abstract

BackgroundThis 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.MethodsPatients 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.ResultsTongue 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).ConclusionsTongue 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.