MORPHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNOEA PATIENTS USING COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the the study was to compare CT-obtained measures related to the cross-sectional area of the airway at various points (nasal valve, mid-nasal cavity, choanal, retro-lingual and retro-uvulal) in cases of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) with their values in normal controls. Such abnormal values may act as markers of risk for OSA. METHODS:  CT (computerised tomographic) imaging from 27 cases of OSA attending the Otorhinolaryngology Dept. of the Adana City Training and Research Hospital were evaluated retrospectively, alongside 9 normal controls. RESULTS: T he means of the nasal valve and choanal cross sectional areas differed from the normal control means at the level of statistical significance (p=0.019 and p=0.012, respectively). CONCLUSION: The authors hypothesize that the area of the nasal valve and the choanae have a bearing on the likelihood of developing OSA, but state that further research involving larger populations is needed to draw firm conclusions.