## 4 Discussion
Between 14 and 18 years of age, a phase of relative stability is noted in pharyngeal development [17; 18; 19]. Long-term follow-up studies have confirmed that from 20 to 50 years of age, the soft palate undergoes elongation and thickening, while there is a narrowing of the pharyngeal region [20]. The optimal time frame for assessing orophnegal maturity is determined based on these findings. There are ongoing debates regarding the clinical significance and reliability of the ANB angle in determining anteroposterior jaw relationships [21]. Despite these discussions, ANB angle measurement remains a widely employed method for characterizing anteroposterior dentofacial discrepancies; therefore, this was the method of choice in several studies [6; 14; 22]. Furthermore, the SNA and SNB angles, commonly used to establish the position of the maxilla and mandible relative to the cranial base [23; 24], were also incorporated into the analysis. [PERSON] et al. [6] reported that while the minimum CSA and volumetric measurements of the pharyngeal airway subregions were higher in skeletal Class I than in Class II, the differences were not significant. This suggests that the segmental airway capacity may not be associated with mandibular deficiency. Conversely, our study found a significant difference (\(p<0.001\)) in the minimum CSA and volume of the middle and inferior pharyngeal airway based on [PERSON]'s skeletal classification. This difference may be attributed to a larger sample size. Reports have indicated that the malocclusion type does not influence the pharyngeal airway width [14; 25; 26]. In line with this finding, when considering anteroposterior skeletal classification, [PERSON] et al. [25], [PERSON] et al. [27], [PERSON] et al. [28], and [PERSON] et al. [29] observed no significant differences in the volume and morphology of the nasopharynx (NP), orophnx (OP), and hypopharynx (HP) between different vertical and sagittal facial patterns. However, the upper airway morphology can be affected by different sagittal malocclusions. Most authors have observed smaller OP and NP dimensions in skeletal Class II patterns [30; 31; 32]. [PERSON] et al. [33] studied the upper and lower pharyngeal airways in preadolescents based on various rotation types and found that individuals classified as hyperdivergent had narrower lower pharyngeal airways. [PERSON] et al. [34] showed that adult patients with skeletal Class II who exhibit vertical growth patterns have significantly narrower pharyngeal airways than patients with normal or horizontal growth patterns; the same measurement technique was used in our study and the findings clearly revealed a significant tendency toward reduced pharyngeal airway measurements in hyperdivergent participants in the Class II skeletal group. Accordingly, the minimum CSA in the hyperdivergent group was significantly lower than that in the normodivergent or hypodivergentgroup (Table 5). The relationship between facial growth and airway function remains controversial, partly due to conflicting research findings. Although some studies have suggested a correlation between certain facial features and airway dimensions, others have reported inconclusive or contradictory results [35]. Studies have indicated that 3D imaging offers superior reliability and accuracy compared to conventional cephalometry, particularly in assessing the dimensions of both hard and soft tissues, as well as in airway measurements, such as volume measurements [13; 36]. A systematic review explored the predictability of 3D airway evaluations using lateral cephalograms (LCs) compared with using CT and CBCT scans [37]. This review indicates that although LCs do not reliably predict variability in the hypopharyngeal segment, further robust studies are needed to determine their clinical utility in assessing airway size. Accurate diagnosis forms the cornerstone of any specialty and aids in precise treatment planning and preventive strategies.