The nasopharynx and adenoid in children with glue ear compared with normal controls.

This study was designed to demonstrate whether any differences could be detected in the nasopharyngeal soft tissue size and postnasal space airway in children with glue ear compared with controls. Lateral cephalometric radiographs of 34 children with bilateral glue ear confirmed by paracentesis were compared with those of normal children matched for age and sex. There was no difference in the measurement of adenoid depth between the 2 groups. However, it was found that the palatal airway size was significantly smaller in children with bilateral glue ear than in normal children. Reduction in the palatal airway to 4 mm or less is found in most cases with bilateral glue ear, but only in 15% of normal controls.