title: Three-dimensional analysis of pharyngeal airway form in children with anteroposterior facial patterns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the null hypothesis that the form and size of the pharyngeal airways in preadolescents do not differ among various skeletal patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty healthy children (mean age, 11.79 ± 1.11 years) were divided into three groups by anteroposterior jaw relationships. Using cone-beam computed tomography, the inclination and the volume of the pharyngeal airway were measured and compared with craniocervical angles and cephalometric variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with Class II malocclusion have a larger angle between the FH plane and midplane of the oropharyngeal airway (ang-OA) compared with children with Class I and III malocclusion (P < .01). Ang-OA was significantly correlated with craniocervical angle (ang-cc) and anteroposterior variables, mainly ANB angle, Pog-N perpendicular (P < .01). Airway volume had a positive correlation with facial depth (P < .01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Children with Class II malocclusion have more backward orientation and smaller volume of the pharyngeal airway than do children with Class I and III malocclusion. Inclination of the oropharyngeal airway might be a key factor in determining the form of the entire pharyngeal airway and is related to head posture.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Ji-Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Yoon-Ji
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Lucia S H
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Cevidanes
authors.forename: Yang-Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000473:pathology*; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000473:pathology*; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000473:pathology*; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric