Assessment of the dimensions of the pterygoid hamulus for establishing age- and sex-specific reference standards using cone-beam computed tomography

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to establish age- and sex-specific reference standards for pterygoid hamulus (PH) dimensions using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT scans of 1,000 patients (493 males and 507 females) were retrospectively assessed in coronal sections for length and width measurements of the PH by 3 investigators. The study data were divided into 3 age groups (group 1: <20 years, group 2: 20–50 years, group 3: >50 years). Length and width were compared using one-way analysis of variance and the t-test for age and sex, respectively. RESULTS: The length of the PH on the right side significantly increased from group 1 (6.11±1.47 mm), through group 2 (6.65±1.67 mm) to group 3 (6.99±1.79 mm) and on the left side from group 2 (6.58±1.63) to group 3 (6.98±1.70). The width of the PH significantly decreased from group 1 (1.81±0.39 mm) to group 2 (1.61±0.39 mm) on the right side, and similarly from 1.87±0.36 mm to 1.67±0.37 mm on the left side. PH length (7.18±1.81 mm on the right side and 7.10±1.72 mm on the left side) and width (1.68±0.38 mm on the right side and 1.74±0.36 mm on the left side) were significantly greater in males than in females. CONCLUSION: The length of the PH increased with age, whereas width first decreased and then increased. Length and width measurements were significantly higher in males than in females. These findings will aid in the diagnosis of untraceable pain in the oropharyngeal region related to altered PH morphology.