Feasibility of using computerized tomography in diagnosing nasopharyngeal closure.

The feasibility of using computerized tomography for diagnosing nasopharyngeal anatomy and physiology was investigated. Ten adult subjects with normal communication were assessed with an Ohio-Nuclear Delta Scan 2020 Whole Body Computed Tomographic Scanner at two different levels of the nasopharynx during rest and production of /u/ and /s/. Lateral and anterior-posterior dimensions of the pharynx were simultaneously x-rayed and computed for each subject and condition. Computerized tomography appears to be useful in directly mapping the nasopharynx and in providing precise three-dimensional configurations without using a contrast medium.