title: A comparative study of the pharyngeal airway space, measured with cone beam computed tomography, between patients with different craniofacial morphologies.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to determine any existing association between airway dimensions, measured with cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and the different patient craniofacial morphologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty CBCT (Dental Picasso Master 3D) images, from patients treated at the Orthodontics Master at Valencia University were selected. The program InVivoDental 5.1 was used to visualize sections, analyze three-dimensional images, and perform airway measurements in the three planes of the space. Intra- and interobserver error methods were recorded. After that, measurements at three different levels of the airway (upper, medium, lower) were taken, in both the anteroposterior and transversal directions of the airway space. The area (mm(2)) of the airway space at the three levels was also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the anteroposterior airway measurements, there were differences between the measurements by level. The magnitude of these differences depended on the skeletal pattern of the individual. In the transversal airway measurements and in the area airway measurements, there were no differences according to the skeletal pattern. However, in the transversal direction, measurements in the lower level were significantly higher than in the superior level in all cases. When measuring the area, significantly higher measurements in the upper level were recorded. The homogeneity between medium and lower levels decreased gradually from class I to class III subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No statistically significant results were observed that related the anteroposterior and vertical skeletal craniofacial morphology with airway dimensions, although some specific associations have been detected for certain airway levels or for pattern combinations.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dalmau
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: nataz84@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zamora
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tarazona
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Jose L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gandia
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Paredes
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006928:Hyoid Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008310:Malocclusion / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008311:Malocclusion, Angle Class I / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008312:Malocclusion, Angle Class II / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008313:Malocclusion, Angle Class III / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D021362:Palate, Hard / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019291:Skull Base / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D014716:Vertical Dimension; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: 3-dimensional; 3D; Airway; CBCT; Craniofacial morphology