Assessment of the dimensions of the pterygoid hamulus for establishing age- and sex-specific reference standards using cone-beam computed tomography

Purpose This study was conducted to establish age- and sex-specific reference standards for pterygoid hamulus (PH) dimensions using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods CBCT scans of 1,000 patients (493 males and 507 females) were retrospectively assessed in coronal sections for length and width measurements of the PH by 3 investigators. The study data were divided into 3 age groups (group 1: <20 years, group 2: 20–50 years, group 3: >50 years). Length and width were compared using one-way analysis of variance and the t-test for age and sex, respectively. Results The length of the PH on the right side significantly increased from group 1 (6.11±1.47 mm), through group 2 (6.65±1.67 mm) to group 3 (6.99±1.79 mm) and on the left side from group 2 (6.58±1.63) to group 3 (6.98±1.70). The width of the PH significantly decreased from group 1 (1.81±0.39 mm) to group 2 (1.61±0.39 mm) on the right side, and similarly from 1.87±0.36 mm to 1.67±0.37 mm on the left side. PH length (7.18±1.81 mm on the right side and 7.10±1.72 mm on the left side) and width (1.68±0.38 mm on the right side and 1.74±0.36 mm on the left side) were significantly greater in males than in females. Conclusion The length of the PH increased with age, whereas width first decreased and then increased. Length and width measurements were significantly higher in males than in females. These findings will aid in the diagnosis of untraceable pain in the oropharyngeal region related to altered PH morphology.

[1]  A. Tomczyk,et al.  Functional morphometry of the pterygoid hamulus. A comparative study of modern and medieval populations , 2019 .

[2]  F. Rasmussen,et al.  Association between pterygoid hamulus length and apnea hypopnea index in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: a combined three-dimensional cone beam computed tomography and polysomnographic study. , 2016, Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology and oral radiology.

[3]  T. Skadorwa,et al.  Radiomorphometric assessment of the pterygoid hamulus as a factor promoting the pterygoid hamulus bursitis. , 2015, Folia morphologica.

[4]  K. Orhan,et al.  Evaluation of the pterygoid hamulus morphology using cone beam computed tomography. , 2011, Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology, and endodontics.

[5]  J. S. Dupont,et al.  Comorbidity of Pterygoid Hamular Area Pain and TMD , 2007, Cranio : the journal of craniomandibular practice.

[6]  T. Fujibayashi,et al.  A case of elongated pterygoid hamulus syndrome. , 2001, Oral diseases.

[7]  J. Kronman,et al.  Bursitis of the tensor veli palatini muscle with an osteophyte on the pterygoid hamulus. , 1991, Oral surgery, oral medicine, and oral pathology.

[8]  S. H. Razavi,et al.  Investigating the Morphologic Indices of the Hamulus Pterygoid Process Using the CBCT Technique , 2018 .

[9]  I. Vinter,et al.  Relations of the pterygoid hamulus and hard palate in children and adults: anatomical implications for the function of the soft palate. , 2006, Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft.

[10]  R. Putz,et al.  Functional morphology of the pterygoid hamulus. , 1999, Annals of anatomy = Anatomischer Anzeiger : official organ of the Anatomische Gesellschaft.

[11]  M. Frost.  Unusual cause of palatal pain. , 1970, Lancet.