Growth of the nasopharynx and adenoidal development in Brazilian subjects

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to study the growth of the nasopharynx and adenoid development. Lateral cephalometric radiographs obtained from 320 white Brazilian subjects between 4 and 16 years of age were used. All the participants were nose breathers and none of them had previously undergone adenoidectomy. Tracings were made from the radiographs and cephalometric measurements were performed. The results showed that adenoid sagital thickness is larger in the age group 4 - 5 years and decreases progressively. There is a slight increase in the age group 10 - 11 years, but afterwards the decrease continues. However, the nasopharyngeal free airway space does not decrease in the age group 10 - 11 years, despite the increasing thickness of the adenoid. This is attributable to the downward displacement of the hard palate, resulting in an increase of the free airway space due to growth. Although the nasopharynx follows a growth pattern similar to that of the rest of the body, adenoid tissue does not. Adenoidal development seems to differ from that of other lymphatic tissues, showing a peculiar pattern that can be revealed when hypertrophy due to infections and allergies is eliminated.

Effects of Age and Gender in Normal-Speaking Children on the Nasality Severity Index: An Objective Multiparametric Approach to Hypernasality

“…Furthermore, it is known that the size, shape and surface of the infraglottic and supraglottic resonating structures and cavities influence vocal resonance [3], but before puberty these dimensional characteristics differ very little between boys and girls [40]. The observation made in our study was that the NSI is not significantly different between boys and girls, which thus corroborates the hypothesis of equal structural anatomy of the nasopharynx and adenoidal development [47,48 ]and comparable vital capacity [34] before puberty.…”

Effect of neck extension on the advancement of tracheal tubes from the nasal cavity to the oropharynx in nasotracheal intubation: a randomized controlled trial

“…Although we could not find out any reference about the angle, the mean of the angle and SD was 100.3 ± 7.8 degree when we measured the angle in a sagittal view of preoperative computed tomography images of 39 subjects among all participants in our study. Wrinkles in the posterior nasopharyngeal wall might be a possible cause of blockage because the wall is covered by lymphoid tissue that often undergoes hypertrophy (adenoid) during the transition period to puberty [16]. There are some folds such as salpingopharyngeal fold, salpingopalatine fold, or torus tubarius [17].…”

Effect of neck extension on the advancement of tracheal tubes from the nasal cavity to the oropharynx in nasotracheal intubation: a randomized controlled trial

“…Although we could not find out any reference about the angle, the mean of the angle and SD was 100.3 ± 7.8 degree when we measured the angle in a sagittal view of preoperative computed tomography images of 39 subjects among all participants in our study. Wrinkles in the posterior nasopharyngeal wall might be a possible cause of blockage because the wall is covered by lymphoid tissue that often undergoes hypertrophy (adenoid) during the transition period to puberty [16]. Actually, there are some folds like as salpingopharyngeal fold, salpingopalatine fold, or torus tubarius [17].…”

Does rapid maxillary expansion increase nasopharyngeal space and improve nasal airway resistance?

“…Linder-Aronson and Leighton [21] and Vilella et al [22] confirmed though cephalometry that at 4-5 years of age the adenoid tissue growth is markedly increased when compared to the nasopharynx, and at 10-11 years of age there is a decrease in tonsils size, which is continuous thereafter. We have observed that the nasopharyngeal area increased significantly 30 months after RME, but we infer that this occurred due to craniofacial growth and to tonsils regression at this specific age.…”

“…Since nasopharynx is one of the commonest sites of respiratory obstruction in children (due to adenoid hypertrophy) [17], it is important to study the effects of RME on the nasopharyngeal space and its relation to nasal airway resistance.…”