Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the extent of the damage to soft tissues on the affected side in patients with hemifacial microsomia (HFM).
Materials and methods: Nine patients with HFM were included in this study and underwent computed tomography (CT) examination in the craniofacial area. The axial and coronal CT images were used for evaluating the damage to related soft tissues.
Results: The results showed that the masseter muscle, temporal muscle, pterygoid muscles, and parotid gland were damaged on the affected side in all 9 patients with HFM. However, the extent of the damage to the pterygoid muscles was less than that to the masseter muscle, temporal muscle, and parotid gland.
Conclusions: These findings indirectly support the crucial role of hemorrhage in the development of HFM, and the extent of damage to soft tissues may depend on the distance and barrier effect of the mandible between the hemorrhage and the affected tissues.