Variation trend and significance of adult tonsil size and tongue position

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study is to explore the changing trend and significance of adult tonsil size and tongue position by observing adults in different age groups. Method:Oropharyngeal cavities of 1 060 adults who undergoing health examination and had no history of tonsil surgery were observed. Friedman tongue position (FTP) and tonsil size (TS) were scored according to Friedman's criteria and results were statistic analyzed to evaluate their changing law and significance. Result: Mean FTP scores increased with age significantly（P <0.01）; FTP score in male was lower than that in female（P <0.01）. TS score significantly decreased with age（P <0.05）.The average score of TS had no statistical significance in different gender. Although there was no statistical significance, total score of FTP show an increasing trend with age（P >0.05）;Total scores of FTP were different between sexes（male 4.12±0.67，female 4.23±0.68，P <0.05）.BMI was not found to be statistically different when FTP scores, TS scores and total scores changed (P >0.05); but it showed an increasing trend with age（P <0.01）. Conclusion:Width of pharyngeal cavity in normal adults is always kept in certain stability, while it proves to be narrower in obese people. TS score and FTP score, which appear the opposite trend with age, can be thought as a major factor to keep a stable width of oral pharyngeal cavity.