OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to evaluate the diagnostic values of tongue coating thickness and sterno-costal angle as the quantitative diagnostic indicators in functional dyspepsia.

METHOD: We surveyed 60 functional dyspepsia patients recruited by the clinical trial, ''Clinical Trial for Evaluation on Availability of Tongue Diagnosis System (CTS-1000) : a Pilot study''. The patients were classified into three groups according to Rome Ⅲ criteria for functional dyspepsia, and categorized into five groups according to Instrument of pattern identification for functional dyspepsia. Severity of disease were assessed by Nepean dyspepsia index-Korean version (NDI-K) score. Tongue coating thickness was estimated in two ways, one was percentage of tongue coating measured by Tongue Diagnosis System (CTS-1000), and the other was weight of tongue coating quantitatively measured with microbalance. Sterno-costal angle was measured with a tapeline. In addition, duration of illness and Body Mass Index (BMI) were investigated.

RESULTS: Significant differences of three indicators (percentage of tongue coating, weight of tongue coating and sterno-costal angle) among 3 types by Rome Ⅲ criteria for functional dyspepsia did not exist. Among 5 types by Instrument of pattern identification for functional dyspepsia, significant difference of percentage of tongue coating was found, but other two indicators (weight of tongue coating and sterno-costal angle) did not exist. Percentage of tongue coating and weight of tongue coating showed significant correlation with total NDI-K score, but sterno-costal angle showed no correlation with total NDI-K score. Sterno-costal angle showed strong positive correlation with BMI and also showed significant difference between non-overweight group (BMI < 23, n = 32) and overweight group (BMI ≥ 23, n = 28).

CONCLUSIONS: Tongue coating thickness showed its potential as a new quantitative diagnostic indicator of functional dyspepsia. Further studies on the sterno-costal angle are anticipated to evaluate its potential as a new quantitative diagnostic indicator.