Kolo E.S., Ahmed A.O., Kazeem M.J., Nwaorgu O.G.B.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
Kolo, E.S., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria; Ahmed, A.O., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria; Kazeem, M.J., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria; Nwaorgu, O.G.B., Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria
Background: There are several methods of evaluating adenoidal size pre-operatively. Plain nasopharyngeal radiography is a common investigative modality: it has been advocated, and also condemned. Aim: This study was intended to assess nasopharyngeal airway obstruction by the adenoids using plain X-rays; and also to find correlation if any, with the symptomatology. Methods: This is a retrospective study carried out between January and December 2008. The case notes and plain X-rays of the nasopharynx of 34 paediatric patients with clinical features of obstructive adenoids were analyzed. Results: A total of 34 children were studied, 22 (64.7%) were males and 12 (35.3%) were females. Their ages ranged between 7 months and 10 years: mean age was 3.55 years, standard deviation 2.723. Majority (67.6%) of the children were in the age group 0-4 years. The lowest symptomatology assessment score was 0 and the highest was 3. Children 4 years and below had the highest symptomatology scores. The minimum adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio was 0.35 and the maximum was 0.94. There was no significant difference in the mean adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio of males and females (t = 0.407; p = 0.692). Many (75.0%) of the children with moderate to severe nasopharyngeal airway obstruction by the adenoids were in the age bracket 0-4 years. The lowest adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio score was 0 and the highest was 3. Children 4 years and below had the highest adenoidal- nasopharyngeal ratio scores. There was a very weak nonsignificant correlation between the symptomatology assessment score and the radiological assessment score (r = 0.168; p = 0.375). Conclusion: The adenoidal-nasopharyngeal ratio is reliable in assessing the nasopharyngeal airway in children with obstructive adenoids. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.
adenoid; adenoidal nasopharyngeal ratio; airway obstruction; article; child; clinical article; clinical feature; disease severity; female; human; infant; male; mouth breathing; nasopharyngeal airway obstruction; nose obstruction; plain X ray; preschool child; priority journal; retrospective study; school child; sleep apnea syndrome; snoring; X ray; Adenoids; Airway Obstruction; Chi-Square Distribution; Child; Child, Preschool; Female; Humans; Infant; Male; Retrospective Studies