Evaluation of morphological changes in pharynx with dynamic CT and MRI in snoring patients.

BACKGROUND: Identifying the craniofacial abnormalities that cause snoring and the narrowest area of the upper airway creating obstructions can help to determine the proper method of treatment.

AIM: To identify the factors that can cause snoring and the areas of the airway that are the most likely to collapse with upper airway imaging.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Axial pharynx examinations with CT (computerized tomography) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were performed to 38 patients complaining of snoring and 12 patients who did not complain of snoring. The narrowest areas of nasopharynx, hypophraynx, oropharynx, bilateral para-pharyngeal fat pad and para-pharyngeal muscle thickness were measured.

RESULTS: In snoring patients, the narrowest part of the upper airway was the retro-palatal region in the oropharynx, as measured with both imaging methods. When patients with and without snoring were compared, the former that a higher body mass index and neck diameter and a narrower oropharynx area. In dynamic examinations, we determined that as para-pharyngeal muscle thickness increased, medial-lateral airway diameter and the oropharynx area decreased.

CONCLUSIONS: The narrowest section of the airway is the retro-palatal region of the oropharynx, measured both with CT and MRI.