Correlation of palatal volume with nasopharyngeal volume on computed tomography scans of an Iranian subpopulation

Abstract

ABSTRACT Purpose: The nasopharynx is a common site of airway obstruction; thus, it is important to assess the nasopharyngeal airway dimensions. This study aimed to assess the correlation of the palatal volume with the nasopharyngeal volume on computed tomography (CT) scans of patients with different facial morphological patterns. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study evaluated 93 CT scans of patients. The patients were divided into three groups based on the ANB angle, namely class I (2°≤ANB≤4°), class II (ANB>4°) and class III (ANB<2°). According to the lower anterior facial height/anterior facial height ratio, the patients were divided into three groups of high angle (hyperdivergent, >0.55), low angle (hypodivergent, <0.55) and normal (0.55). The CT scans of patients were analysed to measure the nasopharyngeal volume, palatal volume, palatal height, maxillary width, intercanine width and intermolar width. Data were analysed using the Pearson’s correlation test, ANOVA, independent t-test and Kruskal–Wallis test. Results: No significant correlation existed between the palatal volume and the nasopharyngeal volume (P = 0.806). The maxillary width (P = 0.971), palatal height (P = 0.945), intercanine width (P = 0.320) and intermolar width (P = 0.478) had no significant correlation with the nasopharyngeal volume either. The nasopharyngeal volume was not significantly different in the three classes of malocclusion (P = 0.987) and different facial height patterns (P = 0.331). Conclusion: The palatal volume had no significant correlation with the nasopharyngeal volume. The nasopharyngeal volume was not significantly different in patients with different patterns of facial morphology.