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KMID : 0388420020120010137
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Konkuk Journal of Medical Sciences
2002 Volume.12 No. 1 p.137 ~ p.144
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Radiologic Evaluation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
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Son Eun-Ju
Park Jeong-Hee
Jeon Hae-Jeong
Choi Young-Chil
Lee Chang-Hee
Shin Hyun-Joon
Lee Kyeong-Ryong
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Abstract
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Our purpose was to determine whether there are statistical differences in upper airway size and compliance when patients with obstructive sleep apnea are compared with healthy volunteers using ultrafast CT, and to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of ultrafast CT in obstructive sleep apnea.
29 patients clinically suspected of obstructive sleep apnea and ten healthy volunteers underwent examination of the upper airway with ultrafast computed tomography. All patients had operations; uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP,n = 19), UPPP with tosillectomy (n = 7) and UPPP with septoplasty (n = 3). Eight axial images every 0.7 sec in 8 mm sections were obtained using flow mode. CT was performed twice while the subjects were awake with quiet breathing and were asleep with apnea. Smallest cross-sectional area in the nasopharynx, oropharynx and hypopharynx and compliances were assessed in patients and control subjects. Among the 29 patients, 22 patients showed narrowing at oropharyngeal level and six patients showed narrowing at two or more levels. Patients with obstructive sleep apnea had significantly smaller mean cross-sectional area than obstructive sleep apnea had significantly smaller mean cross-sectional area than control subjects in the oropharynx while sleeping (p<0.05). But there was no significant difference in mean smallest cross-sectional area of the nasopharynx (p = 0.47). In addition, the patients with obstructive sleep apnea had greater compliance of the oropharynx (79.8% vs 39.3%) and hypopharynx (58.9% vs 19.2%) (p<0.01).
Patients with obstructive sleep apnea are characterized by a small oropharyngeal airway and collapsible oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal airways. Ultrafast CT scanning allows rapid and noninvasive assessment of airway variables.
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KEYWORD
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CT, technology, pharynx, radiology
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