Three-dimensional assessment of pharyngeal airway in nasal- and mouth-breathing children.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to assess the pharyngeal airway space (PAS) in nasal and mouth-breathing children using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS Volume, area, minimum axial area and linear measurements (PAS-NL, PAS-UP, PAS-OccL, PAS-UT, PAS-Bgo, PAS-ML, PAS-TP) of the pharyngeal airway of 50 children (mean age 9.16 years) were obtained from the CBCT images. The means and standard deviations were compared according to sexes (28 male and 22 female) and breathers patterns (25 nasal breathers and 25 mouth breathers). RESULTS There were no statistically significant differences (p>0.05) between all variables when compared by sexes. Comparisons between nasal and mouth breathers showed significant differences only in two linear measurements: PAS-OccL (p<0.001) and PAS-UP (P<0.05). Airway volume (p<0.001), area (p<0.001) and minimum axial area (p<0.01) had significant differences between the groups. CONCLUSIONS The CBCT evaluation showed that pharyngeal airway dimensions were significantly greater in nasal-breathers than in mouth-breathers.