Quantitative evaluation of masseter muscle volume in different growth patterns and its correlation with facial morphology: Cone beam computed tomography study

Abstract

Objective: This investigation was designed to evaluate the masseter muscle volume in different growth patterns and its correlation with facial morphology using three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), Materials and Methods: Study was conducted using CBCT scans of nonorthodontically treated individuals ( n = 32, 19 males and 13 females) between the ages of 18–25 years. The masseter muscle volume was calculated using Dolphin 3D software 11.5 version (Essential Dental Products, New Delhi, India). The subjects were grouped according to growth pattern and facial form. Conclusion: CBCT predicts actual muscle volume by calculating number of voxels of scan data and exact geometry of the muscle. The mean masseter muscle volume was 28.73 ± 5.51 cm 3 for horizontal growth patterns, 27.30 ± 6.49 cm 3 for average growth pattern, and 22.14 ± 3.25 cm 3 for vertical growth pattern. The individuals with thin masseter morphology had a longer face in proportion/relation to their facial width with an increase in masseter muscle volume, the facial index decreased, and face appeared to be more rectangular. Euryprosopic facial form showed maximum/highest masseter muscle volume, whereas leptoprosopic facial form showed least muscle volume.