Evaluation of pharyngeal airway space amongst different skeletal patterns

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dimensions of the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) in awake, upright children with different anteroposterior skeletal patterns using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The volume, area, minimum axial area and seven linear measurements of PAS were obtained from the CBCT images of 50 children (mean age 9.16 years). The patients were divided in two groups according to the ANB angle (group I 2° ≤ ANB ≤ 5°; group II ANB > 5°). Means and standard deviations of each variable were compared and correlated using independent t-test and Pearson's correlation test. There were statistically significant differences in the following parameters: angle formed by the intersection between NA and NB lines (p < 0.001), angle formed by the intersection between SN and NB lines (p < 0.05), Minimal pharyngeal airway space between the uvula and the posterior pharyngeal wall (p < 0.05), airway volume (p < 0.01), airway area (p < 0.01) and minimum axial area (p < 0.05). The anteroposterior cephalometric variable SNB had positive correlation with the variables PAS-UP (p < 0.01), Minimal pharyngeal airway space between the uvula tip and the posterior pharyngeal wall (p < 0.05), Pharyngeal airway space on mandibular line (p < 0.05), Minimal pharyngeal airway space between the back of the tongue and the posterior pharyngeal wall (p < 0.05), volume airway (p < 0.05), airway area (p < 0.05) and minimum axial area (p < 0.05). The vertical cephalometric variables angle formed by the intersection between SN and GoGn lines (p < 0.05) and angle formed by the intersection between FH and mandible plane (p < 0.05) showed negative correlation with PAS-UT. These results showed that PAS was statistically larger in group I than group II, indicating that the dimensions of the PAS are affected by different anteroposterior skeletal patterns.