Comparative evaluation of pharyngeal airway volume of cleft lip and palate patients: study of CBCT

The aim of this study was to evaluate pharyngeal airway volumes of patients with cleft lip and palate (CLP) and to compare them with a age-matched control group without cleft lip and palate using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). This retrospective archive study consisted of CBCT images of 80 patients aged between 15-25 years, that were divided into 2 groups as CLP group (40 patients, mean age: 18,1± 2,9 years) and non- cleft lip and palate group (Control group; 40 patients, mean age: 18,9± 3,4). Nasal airway volumes, upper, middle, lower pharyngeal airway volumes and total airway volumes of the subjects in both groups were calculated by "Simplant O&O v3.0.0.59 (Materialise, Belgium)" program. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS version 17.0. It was founded that, patients with cleft lip and palate had smaller nasal airway volume (26.148,5 mm3-36.409,8 mm3) and larger middle airway volume (16.677,6 mm3-11.083,6 mm3); when compared with the control group (P≤0.0001). Upper, lower and total airway volumes showed no statistically significant difference between groups. In addition, no statistically significant differences were found between genders and CLP groups. Based on the results of this study, the best treatment choices which have positive effects on the pharyngeal airway should be selected in these patient.