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Evaluation of uvuloglossopharyngeal dimensions in patients with thalassemia intermedia and major

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Abstract

Objectives

The uvuloglossopharyngeal dimensions (UGPDs) are assumed to be affected by thalassemia major (TM). Because thalassemia intermedia (TI) is a milder form without need for blood transfusions, this study aimed to evaluate whether the UGPDs in thalassemic patients are equally affected by the two forms.

Methods

The study sample comprised 52 lateral cephalograms from thalassemic patients (31 TM; 21 TI) aged 12.98 ± 1.66 years. The control group comprised 25 lateral cephalograms from non-thalassemic subjects aged 13.64 ± 1.55 years with ANB > 3°. Linear measurements including tongue length (TGL), tongue height (TGH), soft palate length, uvula thickness (UT), superior airway space, middle airway space, inferior airway space, and mandibular plane to hyoid (MP–H) were recorded using AutoCAD 2007 software.

Results

Mean TGL, TGH, and MP–H in the thalassemic patient group were significantly smaller than those in the control group (all P < 0.05). Conversely, the mean UT was significantly greater than that in the control group (P < 0.001). The mean TGH, TGL, and MP–H in the control group were significantly greater than those in the TM and TI groups and the mean UT in the control group was significantly smaller than those in the TM and TI groups (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

There were significant differences in some airway components (TGL, TGH, MP–H, UT) between the thalassemic patient group and the control group based on lateral cephalograms as a reliable tool. However, there were no significant differences in these measurements between TM and TI patients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the Vice-Chancellery of Research, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, for supporting this research (Grant no. 6978). This manuscript has been extracted from the DDS Thesis of Mr. Mehrshad Zareiyan, which was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Najmeh Movahhedian and the advisory of Dr. Leila Khojastepour and Dr. Hamidreza Pakshir. The authors would like to express their gratitude to Dr. Ehya Amalsaleh of the Dental Research Development Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, for improving the use of English in the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Ghasroddasht Street, Ghomabad Ave, Shiraz, 71956-15878, Iran

    Najmeh Movahhedian & Leila Khojastepour

  2. School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Ghasroddasht Street, Ghomabad Ave, Shiraz, Iran

    Mehrshad Zareiyan

  3. Orthodontic Research Center, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Ghasroddasht Street, Ghomabad Ave, Shiraz, Iran

    Hamidreza Pakshir

  4. Department of Dental Public Health, School of Dentistry, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Ghasroddasht Street, Ghomabad Ave, Shiraz, Iran

    Mehrdad Vossoughi

  5. Hematology Research Centre, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Namazi Square, Shiraz, Iran

    Soheila Zareifar

Authors
  1. Najmeh Movahhedian
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  2. Mehrshad Zareiyan
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  3. Hamidreza Pakshir
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  4. Mehrdad Vossoughi
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  5. Soheila Zareifar
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  6. Leila Khojastepour
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Leila Khojastepour.

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Conflict of interest

Najmeh Movahhedian, Mehrshad Zareiyan, Hamidreza Pakshir, Mehrdad Vossoughi, Soheila Zareifar, and Leila Khojastepour declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical statement

All procedures followed were in accordance with the ethical standards of the responsible committee on human experimentation (institutional and national) and with the Helsinki Declaration of 1964 and later versions. Informed consent was obtained from all patients for being included in the study.

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Movahhedian, N., Zareiyan, M., Pakshir, H. et al. Evaluation of uvuloglossopharyngeal dimensions in patients with thalassemia intermedia and major. Oral Radiol 32, 167–172 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-015-0226-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11282-015-0226-4

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