Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation of Distance Between Adenoid Tissue and Internal Carotid Artery in Children With Adenoid Hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVES

In the present study, we investigated the distance between adenoid tissue and internal carotid artery (ICA) in children with adenoid hypertrophy by magnetic resonance imaging.

METHODS

Cranial magnetic resonance images of 200 children with adenoid hypertrophy between the ages of 5 and 15 were included. In group 1 (5-9 years of age), there were 100 children, and in group 2 (10-15 years of age), there were 100 children. In both groups, adenoid thickness, adenoid/nasopharynx) ratio, and superior, middle, and inferior adenoid-ICA distances were measured.

RESULTS

Adenoid thickness is significantly higher in the 10-to-15 years age group than in the 5-to-9 years age group (P < 0.05). Adenoid-ICA distance got lower from the superior to the inferior part in both age groups and in both sexes: inferior < middle < superior adenoid-ICA distance. In the 5-to-9 years age group, the minimum adenoid-ICA distances were 2.40 mmsuperior, 0.90 mmmiddle, and 1.20 mminferior. In 10-to-15 years age group, the minimum adenoid-ICA distances were 2.50 mmsuperior, 1.00 mmmiddle, and 0.90 mminferior. As adenoid thickness increased, the inferior adenoid-ICA distance decreased bilaterally (P < 0.05). As the age got older, adenoid thickness increased, and the left superior and middle adenoid ICA distances and bilateral inferior adenoid-ICA distances decreased (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The distance between adenoid and ICA decreased from superior to inferior. In 10- to 15-year-old children, the distance between adenoid and ICA was determined as lower than in the 5- to 9-year-old children. The minimum distances between adenoid and ICA were found to be between 0.9 and 2.5 mm in the 10-to-15 age group and between 0.9 and 2.4 mm in the 5-to-9 age group. It should be remembered that ICA can be very close to the adenoid tissue. In addition, because thermal injury can cause deeper damage to the tissue, bipolar cautery should be used with caution in this area and unipolar cautery should not be used.