title: [Cone-beam CT evaluation of nasomaxillary complex and upper airway following rapid maxillary expansion].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the naso-maxillary complex width and pharyngeal airway volume changes after rapid maxillary expansion (RME).
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five patients were selected (18 males, 17 females, mean age, 12.1 ± 1.1 years). All patients underwent orthodontic treatment with Hyrax palatal expanders. Cone-beam CT (CBCT) scan was taken before treatment (T0), 16 days (T1) and three months (T3) after RME. Naso-maxillary complex width and pharyngeal airway volume were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After treatment the width of piriform aperture and maxillary width were significantly increased compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05). Three months after RME, no statistical difference was found in maxillary width compared with that before treatment. The nasopharyngeal volume significantly increased by 29.9% compared with that before treatment (P < 0.05), and the volume remained relatively stable after three months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  RME resulted in a significant increase in the naso-maxillary complex width and nasopharyngeal volume.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Hebei Eye Hospital, Xingtai Hebei 054001, China.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Hebei Eye Hospital, Xingtai Hebei 054001, China; Email: qsq7615038@163.com.
authors.forename: Suqing
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Hebei Eye Hospital, Xingtai Hebei 054001, China.
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Hebei Eye Hospital, Xingtai Hebei 054001, China.
authors.forename: Sufeng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Hebei Eye Hospital, Xingtai Hebei 054001, China.
authors.forename: Jiandong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ban
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D009666:Nose / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010155:Palatal Expansion Technique; D010159:Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging