Morphometric and Volumetric CBCT Evaluation of Pharyngeal Airway in Individuals with Non-Syndromic Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Background: Cleft lip and palate children (CLP) experience airway issues. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is widely used to plan surgical procedures for individuals with cleft lips and palate (CLP). Objective: The current study was conducted to assess the linear, cross-sectional area, and volume of pharyngeal airway dimensions and their correlation in non-syndromic unilateral CLP (UCLP) patients compared to non-cleft controls. Methods: Linear dimensions, area, and volume of the pharyngeal airway were measured using CBCT with 3D NNT software. Results: The nasopharyngeal, oropharyngeal, and hypopharyngeal width and height, along with area and volume in the control subjects, were statistically significantly greater than the cleft subjects. Conclusion: CBCT scans are recommended because of their increased accuracy and ability to assess the cross-sectional area and volume of the airways. Dimensional changes in the pharyngeal airway can indicate the likelihood of developing skeletal malocclusions or airway insufficiency.