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. 2014 Sep 26;15(1):63. doi: 10.1186/1129-2377-15-63

Table 4.

Comparison of the two techniques used for obtaining masseter biopsies from healthy volunteers

  Microbiopsies (n = 18) Traditional biopsies (n = 10)
Mean weight of each muscle section
19.8 (±2.5) mg***
58.4 (±9.6) mg
Mean volume of each muscle section
13.0 (±1.6) mm3***
64.4 (±9.9) mm3
Surrounding tissues
No
Yes
Type of tissue
 
Parotid gland (20%)
 
Fat cells (30%)
Adequate muscle section
100%
100%
Number of PGP 9.5 positive fibers per section
8.2 ± 1.2*
2.7 ± 0.2
Area of wound
1 (±0.04) mm2***
10 (±0.7) mm2
Post-surgical discomfort
3 (±1) days
8 (±2) days
Type of discomfort
Palpatory tenderness over the belly of the masseter (100%)
Palpatory tenderness over the belly of the masseter muscle (100%)
Bleeding (6%) Limited jaw function (10%)
Chewing difficulties (50%)
Discomfort from sutures (100%)
Extra visit to remove sutures (100%)

Differences are presented as mean (±SD) values.

*P < .05, unpaired t-test, ***P < .001, unpaired t-test.