EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PLASTIC SURGERY, cilt.21, sa.3, ss.118-123, 1998 (SCI-Expanded)
The disadvantages and limitations of imaging methods to investigate velopharyngeal incompetence have created some difficulties in the management of this condition. Seven normal volunteers and seven patients who were suffering from a speech disorder were examined using magnetic resonance imaging. The velopharyngeal aperture was evaluated at rest and during phonation. In normal volunteers, the velopharyngeal aperture area had a mean value of 1.632 cm(2) while at rest and complete closure was obtained during the phonation of /s/ sound. Detailed information tvas obtained about the function of the levator palati muscle. In five patients during the phonation of /s/ sound there was an increase ill the area of the velopharyngeal aperture when compared to the volunteers. Investigation with magnetic resonance imaging is helpful in the pretreatment evaluation and postopertive follow-up examination of velopharyngeal insufficiency. As a result, this noninvasive method can be used as an alternative to conventional radiological investigations.