J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2006 Oct;17(5):471-478.

Normal Thickness Ranges for the Adult Korean Epiglottis Using Ultrasonography

• Paik JH
• Hong DY
• Kim JH
• Lee KM
• Kim JS
• Han SB
• Lee HJ
• Lee KH
• Go YG
• Khi W

Abstract

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the reliability of ultrasonography to image the epiglottis and to determine a thickness range based on healthy Korean adults.
METHODS
Anterior neck images were obtained in 100 healthy Koreans (52 males and 48 females) using ultrasonography. Sonographically, the epiglottis appeared as a curvilinear, hypoechoic structure with an echogenic preepiglottic space. 20 of 100 subjects, each patient underwent two ultrasound measurements by the same examiner to assess for intra-examiner reliability, followed by two additional measurements performed by a second examiner to assess for inter-examiner reliability.
RESULTS
Intraclass correlation coefficient revealed excellent reliability (intra-examiner 0.901, inter-examiner 0.887). The average Korean epiglottis thickness was measured to be 2.31+/-0.22 mm (range: 1.88 mm to 2.84 mm), with greater thickness noted in men (2.41+/-0.21 mm) when compared to women (2.21+/-0.18 mm) (p <0.001). There was significant correlation between epiglottis thickness and body surface area (r=0.533), weight (0.517), height (0.437) and body mass index (0.372). Average examination time was recoded to be 17.84+/-13.09 seconds.
CONCLUSION
Bedside ultrasonography is rapid, safe, easy to perform and can accurately evaluate the epiglottis as seen in our study. Because of excellent reliability, it is possible to establish diagnostic criteria.

Keyword

Epiglottis; Ultrasonography; Reliability

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Body Mass Index
Body Surface Area
Epiglottis*
Female
Humans
Male
Neck
Ultrasonography*