A cephalometric comparison of pharynx and soft palate in Iraqi adolescents and adults population

Abstract EN

Aims : this paper aims to estimate and compare the pharynx and soft palatal dimensions of Iraqi adolescent and adults with class I normal occlusion at Mosul City and to identify any gender dimorphism within each group.

Materials and Methods: Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 160 normal Iraqis what were separated into two groups (80 adolescents and 80 adults).

Each group was additionally-vided into two subgroups according to gender (40 of each gender).

Twelve linear measurements were made in all subjects; gender dimorphism and comparison between two age groups were analysed by student's t test.

Results : No gender differences in all variables except in retro palatal airway space (U-MPW) in the adolescents group.

While, in the adults the only significant gender differences were found in the thickness of posterior nasopharyngeal wall (ad1-Ba)and in the vertical airway space (Pm Eb).The adults had significantly larger values for superior nasopharyngeal(pm-ad2) and inferior nasopharyngeal depth (pm-ad1) than adolescents.

While, adolescents had larger value for superior nasopharyngeal thickness (ad2-s) and posterior nasopharyngeal thickness(ad1-Ba) than adults in both genders .The adult male had a higher value for (Pm-Eb) than adolescent male.

While, adolescent female had a higher value for soft palate thickness (SPT) than adult female.

Conclusions : Data derived from this study should be a useful reference for assessment of sleep apnea and other conditions in the Iraqi population.

Developmental changes were found in all nasopharyngeal parameters except the Pm-ba (sagittal depth of the bony nasopharynx).