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Article Type

Article

Abstract

Aim
The purpose of this study was evaluation of static MRI in assessment of VPI and correlation to auditory perceptual assessment (APA) and nasoendoscopy.
Background
Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) occurs owing to insufficient tissues of the velopharyngeal valve.
Patients and methods
This was a multidisciplinary prospective study conducted at Al‑Azhar and Beni‑Suef University Hospitals, Egypt. The study group consisted of 20 children with VPI postpalatoplasty, aged from 3 to 9 years. Normal MRI values were obtained from Ruotolo et al, and Perry et al. Patients were evaluated by history taking, Gutzman’s and Czermark’s tests, APA, nasoendoscopy, and static palatal MRI.
Results
APA revealed that most of the patients had bad speech scales. Nasoendoscopy revealed that most of patients had concave velum, absent posterior pharyngeal wall movement, and circular velopharyngeal gap. MRI revealed that patients’ velopharyngeal parameters were significantly lower than normal values, and most of patients had symmetrical muscle limbs. Velar length and thickness had a significant positive linear correlation with degree of velar movement. Effective velar length had a moderate negative correlation with degree of velar movement and degree of open nasality.
Conclusion
Static MRI is an important tool in assessment of VPI but should be accompanied by dynamic tools in cases with relatively normal ranged anatomy.
Keywords:
nasoendoscopy, static palatal magnetic resonance image, velopharyngeal insufficiency.

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