MRI Evaluation Of The Upper Airway In Patients With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Objects To observe the change of pharyngeal airway in patients with sleep apnea and to evaluate the MRI value and to investigate the mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods Eighteen cases of OSAS patients proved by polysomnography(PSG) and sixty controls were examined with MRI. The cross-sectional areas of the nasopharynx, palatopharynx, glossopharynx and hypopharynx were calculated ,their sagittal and horizontal sizes were measured ,the thickness of bilateral and posterior pharyngeal wall and the length, thickness, cross-sectional area of the platae were also measured.12 patients underwent fast SPGR Tl-weighted imaging during sleep.The images of palatopharynx,glossopharynx and hypopharynx were analyzed. Results In OSAS group, the cross-sectional areas were smaller than that of the control group except for hypopharynx (p<0.01). The sagittal sizes of all areas of the upper airway were not significantly different berween the OSAS patients and the control group; the transverse sizes of OSAS patients were smaller than that of the control group except for palatopharynx and hypopharynx(p<0.01). The length, thickness, cross-sectional area of the platae in patient group were larger than that of the control group(p<0.01).The mean anatomic causes could also be presumed by analyzing the MR images. Conclusion MRI has significant value in the localized and qualified diagnosis in patients with sleep apnea.