Abstract
OBJECTIVES. Adenoid hypertrophy is related to obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). In this study, we investigated the relationship between adenoid tissue size and maxillary sinus volumes by examining the paranasal sinus computed tomography (PNSCT) images.
MATERIAL AND METHODS. PNSCT images of 41 children were included in this study. According to the adenoid/nasopharynx (A/NP) ratio, two groups were identified. Group 1 (n=19, 9 males and 10 females): A/NP≤0.50 and Group 2 (n=22, 16 males and 6 females): A/NP>0.50. The following measurements were performed: adenoid width, NP width, A/NP ratio, air column, soft palate, maxillary sinus volume and mucosal thickening.
RESULTS. Adenoid width of group 2 (16.11±2.26 mm) was higher than that of group 1 (10.97±2.26 mm). In group 2, with an A/NP ratio of 0.61±0.07, the air column value (6.30±2.27 mm) was lower than that of group 1 with an A/NP ratio of 0.40±0.07 (air column value: 10.06±3.78 mm). NP width, soft palate and maxillary sinus volumes were not different between groups 1 and 2. As the adenoid width increased, the A/NP ratio increased, and the air column decreased.
CONCLUSION. The increase of the A/NP ratio was related to the decreased air column. In older children, air column and bilateral maxillary sinus volumes increased. In males, the adenoid width value was larger than that in females. There was no significant relationship between A/NP ratio and maxillary sinus volume or NP width values. However, higher A/NP ratio values were related to lower air column measurements.