Gray values of the cervical vertebrae detected by cone-beam computed tomography for the identification of osteoporosis and osteopenia in postmenopausal women

ABSTRACT Objective: To determine if the shape of the oropharyngeal airway is related to the vertical morphology of the skeletofacial complex, including the hyoid bone. Materials and Methods: Cone beam computed tomography scans from 50 pretreatment adult orthodontic records were used to obtain skeletal and airway measurements. Linear regression statistics were used to compare soft tissue variables to hard tissue predictor variables. Results: Transverse airway widening was significantly increased when the distance between the hyoid and vertebrae was reduced; when the three-dimensional (3D) facial axis angle decreased (became more vertical); when the 3D mandibular plane angle increased; when the width of the hyoid increased, or when the calculated length of the geniohyoid decreased. Conclusions: A laterally elliptical airway—found when the face is more vertical and when the hyoid is closer to the cervical vertebrae—is hypothetically more resistant to collapse. Patients with a retrognathic, skeletal deep bite and a rounded oropharynx should be identified and corrected early to prevent potential airway problems.

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Cervical Vertebral Body’s Volume as a New Parameter for Predicting the Skeletal Maturation Stages

BioMed Research International ◽

10.1155/2016/8696735 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2016 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Youn-Kyung Choi ◽

Jinmi Kim ◽

Tetsutaro Yamaguchi ◽

Koutaro Maki ◽

Ching-Chang Ko ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Computed Tomography ◽

Regression Analysis ◽

Regression Model ◽

Cone Beam Computed Tomography ◽

Cervical Vertebrae ◽

Skeletal Maturation ◽

Cone Beam ◽

Simple Regression Model ◽

Maturation Stages ◽

Simple Regression

This study aimed to determine the correlation between the volumetric parameters derived from the images of the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae by using cone beam computed tomography with skeletal maturation stages and to propose a new formula for predicting skeletal maturation by using regression analysis. We obtained the estimation of skeletal maturation levels from hand-wrist radiographs and volume parameters derived from the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae bodies from 102 Japanese patients (54 women and 48 men, 5–18 years of age). We performed Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis and simple regression analysis. All volume parameters derived from the second, third, and fourth cervical vertebrae exhibited statistically significant correlations (P<0.05). The simple regression model with the greatest R-square indicated the fourth-cervical-vertebra volume as an independent variable with a variance inflation factor less than ten. The explanation power was 81.76%. Volumetric parameters of cervical vertebrae using cone beam computed tomography are useful in regression models. The derived regression model has the potential for clinical application as it enables a simple and quantitative analysis to evaluate skeletal maturation level.

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