Morphological Variations Of Soft Palate: A Digital Cephalometric Study

Abstract

Background: The morphology of soft palate in different individuals can have range of variability. The variable soft palatal morphology is significant during soft palatal surgeries and treatment planning in cases of velopharyngeal incompetence. Cephalometric analysis offers cost effective radiographic technique in assessment of the same.

Aim and Objective: The aim of the present study is to investigate the variable radiographic morphologic appearances of soft palate by digital lateral cephalometry and to see the differences in the morphological variety in different gender groups.

Materials and Methods: Radiographs of 300 subjects were taken by random selection from patients visiting radiographic diagnostic set-up. The individuals were subjected to digital cephalometry, and the images are processed with Kodak dry view laser printer. All digital cephalometric films were subjected to cephalometric tracing. The radiographs were evaluated to observe for the morphological variations of the soft palate

Results: Of 300 subjects, Six different types of soft palate were observed. Type 1 (52%) and Type 2 (25%) were found to be the most common types of soft palates followed by Type 4 (9.3%), Type 6 (7.3%), Type 3 (3.3%) and Type 5 (3%) respectively.

Conclusion: The soft palate can be broadly classified into six different types. This classification can further assist us in better understanding of the velar morphology in the median sagittal plane and these can be used as reference for research of velopharyngeal closure in cleft palate individuals, obstructive sleep apnea and other conditions. We also conclude that the cephalometric analysis is one of the most accepted and cost-effective techniques to evaluate upper airway and craniofacial morphology and for evaluation of the soft palate.