Radiographic adenoid evaluation: proposal of an objective parameter

Abstract

ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to evaluate current radiographic parameters designed to investigate adenoid hypertrophy and nasopharyngeal obstruction, and to present an alternative radiographic assessment method.Materials and MethodsIn order to do so, children (4 to14 years old) who presented with nasal obstruction or oral breathing complaints were submitted to cavum radiographic examination. One hundred and twenty records were evaluated according to quantitative radiographic parameters, and data were correlated with a gold-standard videonasopharyngoscopic study, in relation to the percentage of choanal obstruction. Subsequently, a regression analysis was performed in order to create an original model so the percentage of the choanal obstruction could be predicted.ResultsThe quantitative parameters demonstrated moderate, if not weak correlation with the real percentage of choanal obstruction. The regression model (110.119*A/N) demonstrated a satisfactory ability to "predict" the actual percentage of choanal obstruction.ConclusionSince current adenoid quantitative radiographic parameters present limitations, the model presented by the present study might be considered as an alternative assessment method in cases where videonasopharyngoscopic evaluation is unavailable.

Correlation between Clinical and Radiographic Findings in the Assessment of Adenoid Hypertrophy

“…The results depicted that radiological assessment was reproducible in most of the cases and demonstrated better accuracy in cases diagnosed with mild adenoid hypertrophy. 2 Adedeji et al 5 conducted a cross-sectional hospital-based study at Lautech Teaching Hospital that correlated adenoidal nasopharyngeal ratio (ANR) with symptoms of enlarged adenoids in children. The present study findings are in concordance with their study, which demonstrated that adenoid thickness, could be assessed using the patient's clinical and radiological findings.…”

“…This condition is commonly observed in children who present with varying clinical signs and symptoms, including mouth breathing, snoring, hypo-nasal speech, and resultant infections such as recurrent otitis, rhinosinusitis, and adenoiditis. [1][2][3][4][5] Severe cases of adenoidal hypertrophy present with obstructive sleep apnea, poor performance at school, and impairment of cognitive functions. 1,2,5 In comparison to the bony structure of the nasopharynx, adenoids grow more rapidly in children, which predispose them to obstructive symptoms.…”

“…[1][2][3][4][5] Severe cases of adenoidal hypertrophy present with obstructive sleep apnea, poor performance at school, and impairment of cognitive functions. 1,2,5 In comparison to the bony structure of the nasopharynx, adenoids grow more rapidly in children, which predispose them to obstructive symptoms. 5 Adenoidectomy is considered the best surgical intervention for treating symptomatic patients with adenoid hypertrophy, particularly in the paediatric population.…”

Long-term Impact of Adenotonsillectomy on the Quality of Life of Children with Sleep-disordered breathing

“…36 Adenoid size (in percentage of obstruction) was calculated through the skull lateral-view X-ray. 37 The children were weighed and measured by the principal investigator. Patients with overweight, obesity, underweight, craniofacial malformations, genetic syndromes, neuromuscular diseases, or developmental delays were excluded, as were patients who required a concomitant procedure (including inferior turbinate surgery).…”

Normal, abnormal, and inconclusive: has the ultrasound pattern of healthy cervical lymph nodes been defined?

“…The assessment of head and neck injuries by imaging methods has been the focus of a number of recent studies in the radiology literature of Brazil (1,6) . The article authored by Ogassavara et al (7) , published in the previous issue of Radiologia Brasileira , brought to light the normal morphological aspects of superficial lymph nodes of the neck in adult patients, on gray-scale ultrasound, which take on greater importance due to the rarity and brevity of descriptions in the literature.…”