A tomographic technique of assessing lateral pharyngeal wall displacement

Various methods of specifying lateral pharyngeal wall configuration during speech and other activities are reviewed. Basic tomographic principles also are reviewed, and a new tomographic technique of measuring mesial displacement of the pharyngeal walls is presented. An important advantage of the technique described in this report is that it enables one to measure the degree and level of mesial displacement of the lateral pharyngeal walls in relation to the soft palate, tongue, and other structures observable on lateral view radiographs.