Measuring Tongue Volumes and Visualizing the Chewing und Swallowing Process Using Real-Time TrueFISP Imaging in Patients With Acromegaly - Initial Clinical Experience

The examination of the chewing and swallowing process needs an imaging modality with high temporal resolution and adequate soft tissue visualization. The purpose of this study was to determine if real-time TrueFISP MR imaging is able to document tongue volumes as well as the chewing and swallowing process in 50 healthy volunteers and in 10 patients with acromegaly. The study has shown that real-time True-FISP imaging can be used to visualize the chewing and swallowing process in volunteers as well as in patients with acromegaly and that the applied protocol is capable to detect several pathologies associated with acromegaly.