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| Evaluation of changes of the upper airway dimensions in different phases ofrespiration in patients with OSAHS by MSCT |
| GAO Ping, LI Wu-yi, DANG Yu-qing, CHANG Bei, WANG Xiao, JIN Zheng-yu |
| Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, PUMCH, Beijing 100032, China |
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Abstract Objective: To evaluate the changes in upper airway dimensions in different phases of respiration in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) and the control group. The correlation between these dimensions and the apnea-hypopnea index(AHI) results were also analysed to know the characteristics about the dynamic changes of upper airway in OSAHS patients. Materials and Methods: Forty-five OSAHS patients and 11 normal persons were evaluated by 16-slice spiral CT. To measure the area, anteroposterior and lateral dimensions, retropharyngeal tissue of the smallest cross-sectional areas of both retropalatal and retroglossal space of the upper airway during inspiration and expiration. The length and the thickness of soft palate, as well as the thickest right and left side walls were measured. The correlation between these dimensions and the PSG results were analyzed. Results: ①There was statistically significant difference among area, lateral dimensions, retropharyngeal tissue of the smallest cross-sectional areas of both retropalatal and retroglossal space of the upper airway during inspiration and expiration between the two groups. So did the length, the thickness of the soft palate and the side walls. There was no significant difference according to anteroposterior dimensions. The trend of the changes of these dimensions is the same between the groups. The OSAHS patients had significantly smaller lateral dimensions of the retropalatal space and the length of the soft palate in expiration compared with inspiration(P＜0.05). There was no significant difference in the control group. ②There were negative correlations between the area, the anteroposterior, lateral diameters and AHI in expiration. Conclusions: In different phase of respiration, there were similar dynamic changes in the upper airway between OSAHS patients and normal persons. The side walls of the upper airway of OSAHS patients were more collapsed than that of the normal persons. It will be more suitable for CT measurements of the upper airway in expiration. It is better to evaluate the dimensions of the upper airway in retroglossal and retropalatal space separately, since the dynamic changes of which are different.
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Received: 03 February 2008
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Corresponding Authors:
LI Wu-yi
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2008, Vol. 19 
