title: Morphometric growth changes of the nasopharyngeal space in subjects with different vertical craniofacial features.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to morphometrically investigate the growth pattern of the adenoids in growing subjects with hyperdivergent and hypodivergent vertical craniofacial features.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study, we used a longitudinal sample of lateral cephalometric radiographs of 28 hyperdivergent and 30 hypodivergent subjects from 4 to 13 years of age. The radiographs were obtained from the American Association of Orthodontists Foundation Craniofacial Growth Legacy Collection. Measurements were made using digital tracings of the lateral cephalograms and point distribution models. Mixed-model analyses were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean distance between the sphenoid bone and the posterior nasal spine increased up to 5.3 mm over a 9-year span (95% CI, 4.1-6.5 mm; P <0.001). Furthermore, the mean distance between the sphenoid bone and the posterior nasal spine differed significantly (P = 0.029) between facial types; it was consistently greater (1.8 mm; 95% CI, 0.2-3.3 mm) in the hyperdivergent group. The nasopharyngeal airway area showed a trend to increase with age up to 12-fold (P <0.001). A significant interaction (P = 0.004) was found between age and facial type. Assessment of the adenoid shapes showed greater convexities in the hyperdivergent group, which were observable from an earlier age and for a longer duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Clear differences in the morphometric growth pattern of the adenoids were found between facial types. Evaluation of adenoid shapes showed more prominent convexities that lasted longer in the long facial types than in the short facial types.
authors: Research fellow, Discipline of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Jong Eon Ernie
authors: JE
authors: Park
authors: Professional practice fellow, Discipline of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Sophie
authors: S
authors: Gray
authors: PhD candidate, Department of Computer Science, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Hamza
authors: H
authors: Bennani
authors: Senior lecturer, Discipline of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors: Joseph S
authors: JS
authors: Antoun
authors: Professor and chair, Discipline of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. Electronic address: mauro.farella@otago.ac.nz.
authors: Mauro
authors: M
authors: Farella
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D000293:Adolescent; D002508:Cephalometry; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development*; D012189:Retrospective Studies