Comparative study of determining the site of airway obstruction in obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea between MSCT and airway press measurements

Objective To compare MSCT and upper airway pressure monitoring for locating the sites of obstruction in the upper airway of patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, and analyze their advantages and shortages respectively. Methods The upper airway smallest cross-sectional areas of twenty-nine patients with OSAHS were measured by using 16-slice spiral CT. The upper airway pressure was monitored for these patients. Results The identical result of obstruction mainly occurred in retropalatal or retroglossal area was obtained by CT and upper airway pressure monitoring in 22/29. The obstruction mainly occurred in retropalatal area was found in 25/29 by CT and 22/29 by upper airway pressure monitoring, respectively. In three cases, the obstruction was found in both retropalatal and retroglossal space by CT. The obstruction only occurred in retroglossal space was not found by CT, by upper airway pressure monitoring, all cases were found the obstruction in retropalatal and retroglossal space, but the most in retropalatal space. Four cases were found the obstruction mainly occurred in retroglossal space by upper airway pressure monitoring. Conclusion Two methods, CT and upper airway pressure monitoring, are good enough for evaluating obstruction in retropalatal area of upper airway, but are very different in retroglossal space. There are different advantages and shortages in the two methods, and it is beneficial for diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS combining with CT and upper airway pressure monitoring.