Cranio-facial morphology in children with and without enlarged tonsils

The purpose of the present study was to compare the cranio-facial morphology in children with and without enlarged tonsils. The material consisted of 73 children with enlarged tonsils, and a control group of children with normal tonsils, matched for age, sex, and number. The mean age for the groups was 10.1 and 10.0 years, respectively. Evaluation of anamnestic history, clinical examination, and lateral skull radiographs were undertaken. Compared to the control children, the children with enlarged tonsils had more retrognathic and posteriorly inclined mandibles, larger anterior total and lower facial heights, and larger mandibular plane angles. Regression analyses revealed that functional, postural, and morphological factors, such as open mouth posture, low posture of the tongue, large depth of oropharynx at the site of the tonsils as well as mouth-breathing at night, were associated with skeletal features expressing an increased open vertical configuration and mandibular retrognathism.