Abstract

INTRODUCTION

The essence of sleep apnea and snoring treatment is to identify the location of the obstruction in the upper respiratory system. In this study, our aim is to investigate the surrounding soft tissue compartments that might cause the narrowing of the upper airway using MRI and compare the results with healthy people.

METHODS

In the radiology department of our hospital, 18 sleep apnea and 17 apnea negative patients went under cervical MRI scanning between October 2014 and November 2015. Using MRI scans of these patients, oropharyngeal airway space, pharyngeal fat tissue thickness, pterygoid muscle, and parapharyngeal wall thickness measurements were made.

RESULTS

While no significant difference was found between bilateral pterygoid muscle width and pharyngeal fat thickness of the apnea negative and positive patients, parapharyngeal wall thickness average and oropharynx air column area measurements were found to be significantly different between these two groups of patients.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

MRI, with resolution of the soft tissues and airways, is a useful method to evaluate patients with OSAS because it allows three-dimensional space calculation of airways, soft tissues, and bone structures.