Department of Orthodontics, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 2013 Jun;143(6):799-809. doi: 10.1016/j.ajodo.2013.01.015.
The objective of this study was to characterize the volume and the morphology of the pharyngeal airway in adolescent subjects, relating them to their facial skeletal pattern.
Fifty-four subjects who had cone-beam computed tomography were divided into 3 groups-skeletal Class I, Class II, and Class III-according to their ANB angles. The volumes of the upper pharyngeal portion and nasopharynx, and the volume and morphology of the lower pharyngeal portion and its subdivisions (velopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx) were assessed with software (version 11.5; Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions, Chatsworth, Calif). The results were compared with the Kruskal-Wallis and the Dunn multiple comparison tests to identify intergroup differences. Correlations between variables assessed were tested by the Spearman correlation coefficient. Correlations between the logarithms of airway volumes and the ANB angle values were tested as continuous variables with linear regression, considering the sexes as subgroups.
The minimum areas in the Class II group (112.9 ± 42.9, 126.9 ± 45.9, and 142.1 ± 83.5 mm(2)) were significantly smaller than in Class III group (186.62 ± 83.2, 234.5 ± 104.9, and 231.1 ± 111.4 mm(2)) for the lower pharyngeal portion, the velopharynx, and the oropharynx, respectively, and significantly smaller than the Class I group for the velopharynx (201.8 ± 94.7 mm(2)). The Class II group had a statistically significant different morphology than did the Class I and Class III groups in the velopharynx. There was a tendency to decreased airway volume with increased ANB angle in the lower pharyngeal portion, velopharynx, and oropharynx. In the upper pharyngeal portion, nasopharynx, and hypopharynx, there seemed to be no association between the airway volume and the skeletal pattern.
The Class II subjects had smaller minimum and mean areas (lower pharyngeal portion, velopharynx, and oropharynx) than did the Class III group and significantly less uniform velopharynx morphology than did the Class I and Class III groups. A negative correlation was observed between the ANB value and airway volume in the lower pharyngeal portion and the velopharynx (both sexes) and in the oropharynx (just in male subjects).
本研究的目的是描述青少年患者咽腔气道的体积和形态，并将其与面骨形态结构相关联。
根据 ANB 角，54 名患者被分为 3 组：骨骼Ⅰ类、Ⅱ类和Ⅲ类。使用软件（版本 11.5；Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions，Chatsworth，Calif）评估上咽段和鼻咽部的体积，以及下咽段及其各分区（软腭后区、口咽腔和下咽腔）的体积和形态。采用 Kruskal-Wallis 和 Dunn 多重比较检验比较组间差异，采用 Spearman 相关系数检验变量间相关性。对气道容积的对数值和 ANB 角值进行连续变量线性回归检验，将性别作为亚组。
Ⅱ类组（112.9 ± 42.9、126.9 ± 45.9 和 142.1 ± 83.5mm²）的下咽部、软腭后区和口咽腔最小面积显著小于Ⅲ类组（186.62 ± 83.2、234.5 ± 104.9 和 231.1 ± 111.4mm²），也显著小于Ⅰ类组的软腭后区（201.8 ± 94.7mm²）。Ⅱ类组的软腭后区形态与Ⅰ类和Ⅲ类组有统计学差异。下咽部、软腭后区和口咽腔的气道容积与 ANB 角呈负相关。上咽段、鼻咽部和下咽腔的气道容积与面型无相关性。
Ⅱ类组患者的最小和平均面积（下咽部、软腭后区和口咽腔）小于Ⅲ类组，且软腭后区形态明显不如Ⅰ类和Ⅲ类组均匀。在下咽部和软腭后区（两性）以及口咽腔（仅男性），ANB 值与气道容积呈负相关。
