Avaliação cefalométrica em pacientes adultos com baixa estatura e sem deficiência do hormônio do crescimento

Abstract

Dwarfism is defined when the final height of the individual is located two standard deviations below the mean of the reference population. It may be linked to endocrine disorders, as the growth hormone deficiency (GH), but it can also result from environmental changes, chromosomal and bone dysplasias. Cephalometric studies in patients with such changes are still scarce. The aim of this paper is to analyze cephalometric measurements in individuals with short stature without isolated deficiency of growth hormone (IDGH). Four individuals of short stature without a diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency underwent a cross-sectional cephalometry study, evaluating nine linear and five angular measurements. Measurements were exposed in absolute values and Standard Score Deviation (SDS). In the SDS evaluation, all the linear measurements of short stature without IDGH group were reduced. Angular measures weren’t diminished, with the exception of gonial angle that was increased in individuals without IDGH (3,1±1,0 SDS). The 03 studied groups have different craniofacial characteristics, influenced by the present GH level. Patients without growth hormone deficiency exhibited a reduction of all linear measurements, however, this condition was near normality, compared to the values found in IDGH. Except for the gonial angle, angular measures didn’t show great variation, being within the normal range in the three groups. These data suggest that short stature may not directly influence the craniofacial measures.