Any correlation between severity of symptoms and the adenoid nasopharyngeal ratio?

Abstract

Objective: Adenoid Hypertrophy is a common childhood condition that presents with mouth breathing, nasal discharge, snoring and sleep apnea. Lateral Nasopharyngeal X-ray aids diagnosis and assessment of patency of the Nasopharyngeal air column through Adenoid Nasopharyngeal Ratio (ANR). This study aims to correlate ANR with symptoms and signs of Adenoid Hypertrophy. 

Material and Methods: A retrospective study conducted in the Ear, Nose and Throat/Head and Neck Surgery (ENT/HNS) Department of University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada from January 2019 to December 2021. The case notes and Lateral Nasopharyngeal X-rays of 66 Children aged between 2months to 11 years, with suspected Adenoid Hypertrophy were retrieved and relevant retrieved data analyzed.

Results: A total of 66 patients were enrolled into this study with 50 (75.76%) males and 16 (24.24%) females. The age range was between 2 months to 11 years, with a mean of 3.65±2.76 years. ANR ranged from 0.03 to 0.94 with mean 0.71±0.15. Out of the 66 participants, 30 (46.15%) had ANR of 0.7, while 35 (53.85%) had ANR of > 0.7. Linear regression analysis showed association between age and ANR (P < 0.05). Snoring was the most common symptom (92.42%), followed by Mouth breathing (89.39%) and Nasal Discharge (77.27%). Majority of patients (88.6%) had a Mild Symptom Score. There was no statistically significant relationship between any of the clinical features and ANR.

Conclusion: There is no significant correlation between the clinical features and adenoid nasopharyngeal ratio.