CT imaging of upper airway stricture at the lingual region of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea patients

Objective: To study the CT imaging of upper airway at the lingual region stricture for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea(OSAHS) patients and to explore its meaning.Methods: One hundred patients with OSAHS were enrolled in this study and divided into two groups: the stricture group(24 cases) and the non-stricture group(76 cases).The dimension of the lingual region airway,the thickness of the retro-pharyngeal and the lateral pharyngeal tissue,and the width and length of the tongue were determined.Results: There was no difference of age,BMI,AHI and pulse oxygen between the stricture group and the non-stricture group.The coronal and the arrow diameters of the stricture group were less than those of the non-stricture group.The thickness of the retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal wall,and the width and length of the tongue of the stricture group were larger than those of the non-stricture group.Conclusion: Lingual region stricture occurs in about 24% of patients with OSAHS,which may be caused by the incrassation of the retropharyngeal and lateral pharyngeal wall and fleshy tongue.