Creating Normative Growth Curves for Pediatric Upper Airway Volume

Abstract

Background: The objective of this study was to create normative growth curves for pediatric upper airway volume using 3D computed tomography with emphasis on the neonatal age group. Methods: We completed a single-institution, retrospective review of all patients with available CT scans between the ages of 0 and 60 months. Patients were excluded if they exhibited any maxillofacial dysmorphism or upper airway pathology or if scans showed the presence of airway appliances or tubes. 3D volumetric upper airway analysis was performed and 2D cephalometric measurements and growth parameters including height, weight and age were recorded for all patients. Linear regression analysis was used to develop a prediction model for airway volume in terms of age adjusting for cephalometric and growth parameters stratified by sex and the resulting model was used to create separate percentile curves for each sex group. Results: The growth curves were created based on CT scans from 217 healthy patients. Mean airway volume was significantly larger in males than females (3.23 ± 1.98 mm3 vs 2.61 ± 1.64 mm3, p = 0.017). Conclusions: Normative growth curves for neonatal and pediatric upper airway volume are a useful tool for tracking changes in airway volume in the growing infant.