[Cephalometry study of craniofacial and upper airway in boys with OSAS].

Objective: The purpose of the study was to find out craniofacial and upper airway characteristics of boys with OSAS.

Methods: Craniofacial and upper airway morphology was studied by computerized cephalometric analysis in 7 mixed dentition boys with OSAS and 29 healthy boys.

Results: The main differences of OSAS patients were shown as follows: longer dimension of cranial base with clockwise rotation of palate plane and mandibular plane, increased height of the tongue, inferiorly displaced hyoid bone, decreased sagittal dimension of upper airway in soft palate level and tongue base level. In addition, the tongue and soft palate occupied a larger portion of the oropharyngeal area.

Conclusion: Patients with OSAS presented multiple abnormalities in craniofacial and upper airway. Cephalometry can be useful in diagnosis and determining the appropriate treatment for OSAS patients.