Evaluation of Velopharyngeal Closure Ratio by a New Semi-Automatic Detection Method Based on Nasopharyngoscopy With...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Speech Pathology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Nasopharyngoscopy is crucial for evaluating velopharyngeal function.
• Accurate measurement of velar closure ratio (VCR) is essential for diagnosis.
• Existing methods may lack precision or require extensive manual analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel semi-automatic detection method (SADM) for VCR assessment.
• To enhance the diagnostic accuracy of velopharyngeal function.
• To provide a reliable and efficient tool for clinical use.

Main Methods:

• Image processing techniques were employed to create the SADM.
• 72 patients underwent nasopharyngoscopy with SADM evaluation.
• SADM reliability was assessed through repeated measurements and comparison with conventional methods.

Main Results:

• SADM demonstrated high reliability (ICC=0.996) and strong agreement with conventional methods (ICC=0.954).
• Optimal VCR thresholds for classifying velopharyngeal function were established (0.82 and 0.92).
• SADM achieved high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for velopharyngeal incomplete, marginal VPC, and VPC.

Conclusions:

• The developed SADM is an accurate and reliable tool for VCR evaluation.
• SADM can significantly improve the efficacy of velopharyngeal function diagnosis.
• This method offers a valuable advancement in clinical nasopharyngoscopy applications.