The three dimensional CT study of the upper airway of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: oral appliance in mouth can change the volume of oro-and nasopharynx

摘要

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have recurrent cessation of breading during sleep as a result of occlusion and narrowing of the upper pharyngeal airway. There are many imaging study of the UA performed in patients with OSAS including conventional computed tomography, spiral CT, ultrafast CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), vidio fiberoptic pharyngeal study and cephalometric radiography. Volumetric imaging of ASAS patients with spiral CT had many advantages to evaluate and measure the UA of the patients with OSAS. Faster scanning completed in approximately 20 seconds get more coverage and require shoter breath-holds without motion artifacts. The combination of speed and high resolution of spiral CT creates better image that will improve diagnosis of abnormality and accurate measurement of upper airway. 3D spiral CT imaging including 3D navigator, SSD, Raysum and MPR generates the views of upper airway from outside and inside which can help radiologist improve communication with referring physicians by giving them a tool to better visualize images. Our study showed the main therapeutic mechanisms of oral appliance is the volume changes of oro-and nasopharynx.