Novel prediction models for pharyngeal‐airway volume based on the cranial‐base and midsagittal cross‐sectional area of the airway in the pharyngeal region: A cephalometric and magnetic resonance imaging study

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveThe objective of the study was to elucidate the association between cranial base (Bjork‐Jarabak analysis), midsagittal cross‐sectional area of the airway in the pharyngeal region (MCSA‐PR) data and pharyngeal‐airway volume (PAV) and develop a model that could help clinicians predict PAV using two‐dimensional (2D) data (Bjork polygon and MCSA‐PR).Materials and MethodsPre‐treatment lateral cephalometric radiographs and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 82 women were categorized into three anteroposterior skeletal groups based on ANB angle: Class I (n = 29), 1.5° ≤ ANB≤5.1°; Class II (n = 26), ANB >5.1°; Class III (n = 27), ANB <1.5°. The Bjork polygon, MCSA‐PR data from cephalograms and PAV data from MRI scans were examined. Intergroup comparisons were performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test and one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with pairwise comparisons conducted using the Bonferroni‐corrected Mann–Whitney U‐test for the Kruskal–Wallis test and Bonferroni‐corrected multiple comparison test for one‐way ANOVA. Forward multiple linear regression was used to create model equations for predicting PAV.ResultsMCSA‐PR and anterior (N‐S) and posterior (S‐Ar) cranial‐base lengths were positively correlated with the PAV. We developed four models; three operated at the group level, and one encompassed the entire sample. Notably, all models could effectively explain the variance in the PAV data. The model for the Class I group was the strongest (adjusted R2 = 0.77).ConclusionOur findings indicate the remarkable potential of the MCSA‐PR, N‐S and Bjork sum angles (BSA) as predictors of the PAV and the relevance of 2D cephalometric and cranial‐base parameters in predicting the three‐dimensional (3D) pharyngeal‐airway size.