Evaluation of the effects of chronic qat chewing on lateral pterygoid muscle using MRI

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study explored the effect of qat chewing (QC) on the lateral pterygoid muscle (LPM), using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: Forty qat chewers (QG), divided into three subgroups, according to duration of QC, and 20 non-qat chewers (NQG) were included. MRI sections were obtained to assess hypertrophy and atrophy of the superior belly (SB) and inferior belly (IB) of the LPM on the chewing and contralateral non-chewing side.

Results: There was a significantly higher prevalence of atrophy of the IB (p < 0.001) and hypertrophy of the SB and IB (p = 0.002) in the QG. Hypertrophy of SB and IB was marked (p = 0.001) on the chewing side. Conversely, SB atrophy was marked on the non-chewing side (p = 0.003). MRI demonstrated a positive correlation between LPM alterations and the duration of QC in subgroup analysis.

Conclusion: Unilateral QC might be a cause of LPM alterations.

KEYWORDS:

• Atrophy
• hypertrophy
• Qat
• lateral pterygoid muscle
• temporomandibular disorder
• temporomandibular joint

Authors' Note

Irrespective of qat chewing being practiced widely where it is cultivated, it is legally banned in many countries worldwide, largely due to its amphetamine-like effects induced by its two main components, cathinone and cathine.

Disclosure statement

All authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

No funding resources.