Comparison of nasal passage and palatal volume in obstructive sleep apnea patients and healthy individuals using cone beam computed tomography.

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate and compare palatal volume (PV), nasal passage volume (NPV), and dental arch dimensions between individuals diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and healthy controls.

Methods: A total of 90 OSA patients and 90 healthy controls were included. The OSA group was categorized into four subgroups based on apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and body mass index (BMI). PV, NPV, and dental arch width measurements were obtained from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. All measurements were performed using Mimics Medical software.

Results: The OSA group exhibited significantly reduced NPV and narrower intercanine and intermolar widths compared with the control group (p < 0.05). However, no significant difference in PV was observed between groups. In regression analyses, only NPV showed a significant association with AHI. NPV was considerably higher in controls compared with mild, moderate, and severe OSA subgroups, while no difference was observed between controls and the simple snoring subgroup. PV was significantly higher in the simple snoring subgroup compared with other OSA subgroups. No significant differences were identified across BMI categories.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that reductions in NPV are strongly associated with OSA, supporting its value as a key volumetric marker independent of BMI and highlighting its potential clinical utility in screening, risk assessment, and treatment planning. By contrast, PV changes seem to reflect secondary remodeling processes rather than primary etiological factors. Overall, the findings underscore the multifactorial nature of OSA, in which anatomical variations, airway function, and skeletal adaptations collectively contribute to disease severity.