Imaging Sci Dent.  2016 Mar;46(1):9-16. 10.5624/isd.2016.46.1.9.

Cone-beam CT analysis of patients with obstructive sleep apnea compared to normal controls

• Buchanan A
• Cohen R
• Looney S
• Kalathingal S
• De Rossi S

• KMID: 2160152
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.2016.46.1.9

Abstract

PURPOSE
To evaluate the upper airway dimensions of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and control subjects using a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) unit commonly applied in clinical practice in order to assess airway dimensions in the same fashion as that routinely employed in a clinical setting.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
This was a retrospective analysis utilizing existing CBCT scans to evaluate the dimensions of the upper airway in OSA and control subjects. The CBCT data of sixteen OSA and sixteen control subjects were compared. The average area, average volume, total volume, and total length of the upper airway were computed. Width and anterior-posterior (AP) measurements were obtained on the smallest axial slice.
RESULTS
OSA subjects had a significantly smaller average airway area, average airway volume, total airway volume, and mean airway width. OSA subjects had a significantly larger airway length measurement. The mean A-P distance was not significantly different between groups.
CONCLUSION
OSA subjects have a smaller upper airway compared to controls with the exception of airway length. The lack of a significant difference in the mean A-P distance may indicate that patient position during imaging (upright vs. supine) can affect this measurement. Comparison of this study with a future prospective study design will allow for validation of these results.

Keyword

Sleep Apnea, Obstructive; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Sleep Apnea Syndromes

MeSH Terms

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography*
Humans
Prospective Studies
Retrospective Studies
Sleep Apnea Syndromes
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive*

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Red area indicates the segmented airway with three-dimensional reconstruction.

• 

  Fig. 2 Linear measurements acquired on an obstructive sleep apnea subject. A. Sagittal view denoting the location of the smallest cross-sectional slice. B. Anterior-posterior distance, measured on the axial image. C. Width (lateral), measured on the axial image.

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  Fig. 3 Comparison of airway width (lateral) between an obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and a control subject. A. Axial image of an OSA subject depicting the segmented slice. B. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the airway of the OSA subject pictured in A, pictured from the posterior (coronal) view. C. Axial image of a control subject depicting the segmented slice. D. Three-dimensional reconstruction of the airway of a control subject pictured in C. The 3-dimensional reconstruction is pictured from the posterior view of the airway (coronal view).

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