Evaluation of the upper airway growth patterns based on cervical vertebral maturation in Japanese: A cross-sectional study

This study aimed to calculate standard values of the cross-sectional area of the upper airway, evaluate the upper airway growth patterns, and assess the usefulness of the cervical vertebral maturation stage (CVMS) for growth assessment. Patients (n = 400) who visited the orthodontic clinic of Tokyo Medical and Dental University Dental Hospital were randomly selected. They were classified into five groups according to the CVMS. Lateral cephalometric radiographs were obtained before treatment to measure the upper airway. Changes in the cross-sectional area of the airway during growth were analyzed by calculating the standard values for each cervical age group to further elucidate the growth pattern using the CVMS. Differences between males and females were also compared, and patients (40 each) were randomly selected from each group. The reliability of CVMS was confirmed by the weighted kappa coefficient (κ). The intra- and inter-evaluator agreement—κ—both showed almost perfect agreement. We found that the upper airway growth spurt occurs between CVMS II-III and CVMS III-IV in males at CVMS II-III in females. This study elucidated the gender-related growth patterns of the upper airway using cervical spine age. CVMS classification was a reliable indicator in assessing the naso- and oropharynx growth and development.