Palatal morphology changes in post-stroke patients measured by geometric morphometrics

Abstract

The present study aimed to describe longitudinal palatal shape changes in post-stroke patients when compared to a sample of healthy subjects through linear measurements and geometric morphometrics. The 3D palatal scanned models of seven stroke patients having a 1-year post-stroke follow up were matched with seven control subject of the same age group (range 50-87 years). Intercanine, intermolar distances, and palatal height were measured. 3D images were also analyzed through geometric morphometrics (GMM) to assess changes in the shape of the palate from T0 to T1 (1 year after the stroke). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to describe shape morphology changes, and visual color maps were used to qualitatively assess differences between T0 and T1. No changes were detected nor in linear measures neither in palatal shape in healthy subjects from T0 to T1. The palates of stroke patients showed no linear differences either. However, when visualizing shape changes through color maps, the lateral aspects of the palatal vault were slightly narrower in T1, with respect to T0 in stroke patients. This may be attributed to altered tongue function following the stroke.

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