Longitudinal cephalometric study of Naso- and Oropharynx growth from 3 to 18 years

Authors

Bindi Patel, University of the Pacific
Yasamin Tarassoli, University of the Pacific
Mohammad Feizizad, University of the Pacific
Priya Patil, University of the Pacific
Kunal Sood, University of the Pacific
HeeSoo Oh, University of the Pacific

Lead Author Affiliation

Orthodontics

Introduction/Context/Diagnosis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the growth of the soft tissue of naso- and oropharynx airway.

Methods/Treatment Plan

This is a mixed-longitudinal study using lateral cephalograms obtained from the University of Michigan Elementary and Secondary School Growth Study. The sample consisted of 678 subjects (326 males and 352 females) from ages 3 to 18 years and 2917 lateral cephalometric radiographs were studied. Conventional lateral cephalometric hard tissue and soft tissue naso- and oropharynx landmarks were digitized and analyzed to assess growth changes in the width of the naso- and oropharynx airway.

Results/Outcome

The results of quantitative analysis showed that the majority of skeletal linear measurements increased with time. Nasopharynx airway width (distance from the superior soft palate to the pharyngeal wall) also increased steadily from 7.3 mm to 15.4 mm from age 4 to 17 years. However, the lower part of oropharynx width at tongue base (OrP_T) and the tip of the soft plate (OrP_I) were different from than those seen for the skeletal hard tissue and nasopharynx measurements. Oropharynx airway width at the tongue base level (OrP_T) decreased from 14.9 mm to 11.9 mm from ages 4 to 14 years and increased only about 0.5mm after that, between ages 14 and 17 years. No significant difference was observed in the oropharynx width between male and female until age 16 years; Both OrP_T (p=0.002) and OrP_I (p=0.003) at age 17 years were larger in males. No apparent growth peak was observed in naso- and oropharynx widths.

Significance/Conclusions

The results of this study suggest that the nasopharynx increase steadily from 5 years of age and the lymphoid tissue on the posterior nasopharyngeal wall does not seem to follow Scammon’s curve of lymphoid tissue. Oropharynx airway width at the tip of the soft plate seems relatively stable, ranging 11-12mm from ages 14 to 17 years.

Comments/Acknowledgements

This work was supported by NIH/NIDCR: R01 DE024732-01A1 and the AAOF Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection.

Location

University of the Pacific, Dugoni Dental School, San Francisco, CA

Format

Poster

Poster Session

Faculty, Student, and Staff Presentations