Investigating the Morphologic Indices of the Hamulus Pterygoid Process Using the CBCT Technique
Author(s): Elham Romoozi, Seyed Hossein Razavi, Parisa Barouti, Mitra Rahimi
Abstract
Location and length of hamulus process plays a very important role in the efficiency of muscles such as tensor veli palatine, palato pharyngeal, upper part of upper throat muscle and so on. Given the importance of information on the morphology of the hamular process and capabilities and usefulness of CBCT in the diagnosis of its structure, this study takes place with the goal of investigating the morphologic indices (indicators) of hamulus pterygoid process using CBCT. This study investigates the CBCT images of 201 patients with the average age of 37 years, 102 males and 99 females. The length and width of the hamulus process on the left and right was measured. Also, the slope of this process in the sagittal and coronal planes were studied. Then variables in question were measured by a CBCT viewer. Average length of hamulus pterygoid process on the right was found to be 6.4 mm and on the left it was 6.5 mm. Average width of hamulus pterygoid process on the right was found to be 1.34 mm and on the left it was 1.35 mm. The average slope of the hamulus pterygoid process in the sagittal plane on the right was found to be 55.9 ° and on the left it was 56.7° The average slope of the hamulus pterygoid process in the coronal plane on the right was found to be 65.7 ° and on the left it was 66.5°. Average length and width of the hamulus process on the two sides did not make a statistically significant difference. But the average slope in the sagittal and coronal plane on the left was significantly higher than the one on the right. Average length of hamulus pterygoid process on the two sides was significantly higher in men than women. Average width of hamulus pterygoid process and the slope in the sagittal and coronal planes did not make any difference on both sides in both genders. Average length, width and slope of hamulus pterygoid process in the sagittal plan reduces on both sides with increase in age. But the slope of the hamulus pterygoid process in the coronal plane did not make any significant difference in different age groups on both sides. The slope of pterygoid process was towards the lateral in and in the sagittal plane the slope was towards the posterior. The morphological evaluation of the hamulus pterygoid process in the CBCT images can contribute to the tracking and management of vague non diagnostic symptoms in the palate.
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