Journal of Indian Academy of Oral Medicine and Radiology · Published 2025-10-01 · DOI 10.4103/jiaomr.jiaomr_175_25
Background: Cleft lip and palate children (CLP) experience airway issues. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely used to plan surgical procedures for individuals with cleft lips and palate (CLP). Objective: The current study was conducted to assess the linear, cross-sectional area, and volume of pharyngeal airway dimensions and their correlation in non-syndromic unilateral CLP (UCLP) patients compared to non-cleft controls. Methods: Linear dimensions, area, and volume of the pharyngeal airway were measured using CBCT with 3D NNT software. Results: The nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal width and height, along with area and volume in the control subjects, were statistically significantly greater than the cleft subjects. Conclusion: CBCT scans are recommended because of their increased accuracy and ability to assess the cross-sectional area and volume of the airways. Dimensional changes in the pharyngeal airway can indicate the likelihood of developing skeletal malocclusions or airway insufficiency.
Abstract from DOAJ. Public domain (CC0 1.0).
Read the article at the publisher →