Comparison of two extraoral radiographic techniques used for nasopharyngeal airway space evaluation

Objectives: The goal of this research was to compare lateral cephalometric radiography and cavum radiography in nasopharyngeal airway space evaluation. Methods: The sample of this study consisted of 36 Brazilian mouth breathing children, no racial distinction, with ages ranging from 5 to 12. These children were selected in Recife/PE, Brazil (2005) and divided into 6 groups. In each group, the radiographs were taken on the same day. The sample was composed of 72 radiographs, 36 lateral cephalometric and 36 cavum. Results: The results were based on the Schulhof method and, at the end, an Index representing a summary of all measurements taken was calculated. Student paired t-test, chi-square, Pearson correlation and Kappa index scores were calculated to analyze the results. Only the values of the Airway Occupation Percentage were significantly different (p = 0.006) among the analyzed radiographs. A high degree of correlation was found for all measurements, including the Index values. Conclusions: It can be concluded that, both the lateral cephalometric radiography and the cavum radiography can be used for nasopharyngeal airway space evaluation.