Amjed A. Tarifi; Salameh Z. Sarhan; Mousa A. Amer; Anan D. Al Safarini; Dalia F. Mustafa; Katia S. Altabaa; Yazan B. Omari; Ahmad W. Mustafa; Amjad Shatarat & Darwish Badran
Hyoid bone measurements have been proposed to vary between different genders and age groups. The aim of the study is to study hyoid morphometrics among Jordanian patients. 3D-CT scans of 637 patients were analyzed. Ten parameters of hyoid bone were measures, including the anteroposterior length, length of greater horns (right and left), height of greater horns (right and left), width of hyoid body, height of hyoid body, the distance between the midpoints of the posterior ends of the greater horns of the hyoid bone, the angle between right and left greater horns, and the distance of the hyoid bone to the vertebral column. Also, vertebral level, fusion rank, morphology of hyoid body lingula, and shape of hyoid bone were documented. All hyoid dimensions were longer in males, but greater horns angle was wider in females. In patients younger than 30 years, the parameters are the smallest with the widest angle. The distance from hyoid to vertebral column is higher in males (30-49) years of age. No fusion between hyoid body and greater horns was observed in patients younger than 10 years, but fusion (unilateral or bilateral) was found in only 73.2 % of patients ≥ 70 years. The hyoid was mostly at vertebra C3 level and “U” shaped. The lingula shape was mostly “Scar” in males (especially ≥ 50 years) and “Nothing” in females (especially < 50 years). The maximum growth of hyoid dimensions is before age of 30 years. Fusion between hyoid body and greater horns was not seen in patients younger than 10 years. Otherwise, the hyoid features failed to predict age or gender in our sample. Furthermore, 3D-CT scan is an excellent tool to assess the anatomy of head and neck region.
KEY WORDS: Hyoid; Morphometrics; Age; Sex.
TARIFI, A. A.; SARHAN, S. Z.; AMER, M. A.; AL SAFARINI, A. D.; MUSTAFA, D. F.; ALTABAA, K. S.; OMARI, Y. B.; MUSTAFA, A. W.; SHATARAT, A. & BADRAN, D. Radiological morphometric study of the hyoid bone using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) scans. Int. J. Morphol., 41(2):401-409, 2023.
