Correlation between Otitis Media and Craniofacial Morphology in Adults

Abstract

We conducted a comparison study to determin e if the development of otitis media in adults is correlated with craniofacia l mOJp hology. Our study pop ulation was made up of66 adults, aged 18 to 40 years; 32 ofthese patients had otitis media and 34 did not. All subjects underwent a complete otolaryngo logic examination, video-otoscopy, fiberoptic nasa l endoscopy, and lateral cephalometry. Statistical analysis of the cephalometric measurements in the otitis media group and the control group revealed significant differences in the angle between the anterior skull base and medial skull base, upperfacial height, and anterior f acial height. Also, some significant differences were seen between the measurements in the otitis media group and the normal dimensions ofthe harn;onicf ace as reported in the literature; these differences wereseen in the length ofthe anterior skull base, the angle ofcranial deflection, the depth ofthe maxilla, the angle of the mandibular plane, the angle of fa cial depth , the angle of the f acial COIle, and lower fa cial height. Not all of these significant differences, however; were predictive of the evolution of otitis media. Based on our analysis, we conclude that fo ur cephalometric measurements arepredictive ofthe evolution ofotitis media: (1) the length of the ant erior skull base, (2) the angle between the anterior skull base and medial skull base, (3) maxilla ry depth, and (4) upperfa cial height. No. correlations were found between otitis media and nasal blockage or between otitis media and facial type.

Craniofacial morphology and otitis media with effusion in children

“…In this series we found a smaller N-S (length of the anterior cranial base), in children with otitis media what corroborates other authors [14,16,19,30]. Mann et al [31] found that the anterior skull base of children with otitis media is shorter than that of other children.…”

“…Other factors may contribute such as: inflammatory processes of auditory tube, adenoid enlargement, etc. [3,6,16]. However, correlation with adenoid enlargement was not found in this series, once all the children presented it.…”

“…In an anterior series we described craniofacial differences between adults with and without otitis media [16]. The influence of craniofacial morphology in syndromic children is evident, such as Down and Crouzon, etc.…”

“…Why only some of them? Based on the fact that children with craniofacial anomalies are more prone to otitis media, and that some craniofacial differences are present in adults with chronic otitis media [16]; we hypnotized that besides the pharyngeal obstruction, craniofacial morphology would exert some influence in the genesis of otitis media.…”

“…Computerized cephalometry is very precise in the study of craniofacial morphology and the cephalometric measures were based on a previous series [16].…”