B-mode versus A-mode ultrasonographic measurements of mucosal thickness in vivo

Abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the measurement accuracy of A-mode and B-mode ultrasonographic assessments of palatal masticatory mucosal thickness in vivo. Study Design: Thickness of palatal masticatory mucosa in the molar region of 50 volunteers was measured once with a B-mode ultrasound device (10 MHz) combined with a standoff for intraoral applications. At identical reading points thickness was also assessed with an A-mode device (5 replicates) and by needle probing for determination of true thickness. Results: On average true thickness ranged between 2.9 and 3.3 mm (95% confidence intervals; median, 3.1 mm). B-mode ultrasonography overestimated truth by 0…