Craniofacial morphology in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: cephalometric evaluation / Morfologia craniofacial em pacientes com apneia obstrutiva do sono: avaliação cefalométrica

Abstract Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by a reduced airflow through the upper airways during sleep. Two forms of obstructive sleep apnea are described: the central form and the obstructive form. The obstructive form is related to many factors, such as the craniofacial morphology. Objective: To evaluate the correlation between the morphology of the cranial base, of the mandible and the maxilla, and obstructive sleep apnea severity. Methods: Eighty-four patients, mean age of 50.4 years old; 73 males and 11 females with obstructive sleep apnea were enrolled in the present study. Patients with high body mass index and comorbidities were excluded. Lateral cephalograms and polysomnography were collected for each patient to evaluate the correlation between craniofacial morphology and obstructive sleep apnea severity. A Spearman's rho correlation test between cephalometric measurements and obstructive sleep apnea indexes was computed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: Patients with a severe obstructive sleep apnea presented a reduction of sagittal growth of both effective mandibular length and cranio-basal length. The mandibular length was the only variable with a statistical correlation with apnea-hypopnea index. Vertical dimension showed a weak correlation with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. No correlation with maxillary sagittal dimension was shown. Conclusion: Obstructive sleep apnea severity may be correlated to mandibular and cranial base growth. Facial vertical dimension had no correlation with obstructive sleep apnea severity.

Resumo Introdução: A apneia obstrutiva do sono é caracterizada por um fluxo de ar reduzido nas vias aéreas superiores durante o sono. Duas formas de apneia são descritas: a forma central e a forma obstrutiva. A forma obstrutiva tem sido relacionada a vários fatores, como a morfologia craniofacial. Objetivo: Avaliar a correlação entre a morfologia da base do crânio, da mandíbula e da maxila e a gravidade da apneia obstrutiva do sono. Método: Foram incluídos no presente estudo 84 pacientes com apneia obstrutiva do sono, com média de 50,4 anos; 73 homens e 11 mulheres. Pacientes com alto índice de massa corpórea e comorbidades foram excluídos. Foram coletados cefalogramas laterais e polissonografia para cada paciente para avaliar a correlação entre a morfologia craniofacial e a gravidade da apneia. Foi computado o coeficiente de correlação de postos de Spearman (rho) entre medidas cefalométricas e índices de apneia obstrutiva do sono. A significância estatística foi estabelecida em p < 0,05. Resultados: Pacientes com apneia obstrutiva do sono grave apresentaram redução do crescimento sagital do comprimento mandibular efetivo e do comprimento crânio-basal. O comprimento mandibular foi a única variável que apresentou correlação estatística com o índice de apneia-hipopneia. A dimensão vertical mostrou uma fraca correlação com a gravidade da apneia. Não foi demonstrada correlação com a dimensão maxilar sagital. Conclusão: A gravidade da apneia obstrutiva do sono pode estar correlacionada ao crescimento da base mandibular e craniana. A dimensão facial vertical não apresentou correlação com a gravidade da apneia.

Craniofacial morphology in patients with obstructive sleep apnea: cephalometric evaluation.

INTRODUCTION: Obstructive sleep apnea is characterized by a reduced airflow through the upper airways during sleep. Two forms of obstructive sleep apnea are described: the central form and the obstructive form. The obstructive form is related to many factors, such as the craniofacial morphology. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the correlation between the morphology of the cranial base, of the mandible and the maxilla, and obstructive sleep apnea severity. METHODS: Eighty-four patients, mean age of 50.4 years old; 73 males and 11 females with obstructive sleep apnea were enrolled in the present study. Patients with high body mass index and comorbidities were excluded. Lateral cephalograms and polysomnography were collected for each patient to evaluate the correlation between craniofacial morphology and obstructive sleep apnea severity. A Spearman's rho correlation test between cephalometric measurements and obstructive sleep apnea indexes was computed. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Patients with a severe obstructive sleep apnea presented a reduction of sagittal growth of both effective mandibular length and cranio-basal length. The mandibular length was the only variable with a statistical correlation with apnea-hypopnea index. Vertical dimension showed a weak correlation with the severity of obstructive sleep apnea. No correlation with maxillary sagittal dimension was shown. CONCLUSION: Obstructive sleep apnea severity may be correlated to mandibular and cranial base growth. Facial vertical dimension had no correlation with obstructive sleep apnea severity.

Diagnosis and treatment of isolated sphenoid sinus disease: a review of 109 cases.

CONCLUSION: Endoscopic transethmoidal sphenoidotomy performed mainly in the early stages of the pathology and by expert hands is [WX1]very effective in treating isolated sphenoid sinus disease. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the causes of isolated sphenoid sinus disease identified in 109 patients and report on the most appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic patterns for an earlier diagnosis and a successful treatment of the disease. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 109 subjects with various isolated sphenoid pathologies were first examined by general objective examination, nasal sinus endoscopy, CT scan of paranasal sinuses, and in some cases with MRI. Then, they underwent medical and/or surgical treatment. RESULTS: Nineteen patients (17.43%) had isolated sphenoiditis, 6 (5.5%) fungal sinusitis, 30 (27.52%) mucocele, 6 (5.5%) fibrous dysplasia, 6 (5.5%) meningoencephalocele, 5 (4.58%) inverted papilloma, 4 (3.66%) epidermoid carcinoma, 10 (9.17%) liquor fistula, 1 (0.9%) rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 (0.9%) chordoma, and 1 (0.9%) had carotid pseudoaneurysm. Evidence of definitive diagnosis by endoscopy was obtained in less than half of the cases. CT scan, however, sometimes in combination with MRI, determined the pathology in all the cases. A follow-up of at least 4 years post-surgery showed good results in all the patients who underwent endoscopic transethmoidal sphenoidotomy.

Acoustic pharyngometry: clinical and instrumental correlations in sleep disorders.

UNLABELLED: Acoustic Pharyngometry is a modern diagnostic method based on physical principle of acoustic reflection. It is useful for volume analysis of oro-pharyngo-laryngeal spaces. AIM: To evaluate variations of pharyngometric parameters in patients with sleep disorders and to establish a correlation between morpho-volumetric variations of oro-pharyngo-laryngeal spaces and the presence and severity of disease. STUDY DESIGN: a clinical and experimental study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 110 patients, of which 70 with sleep disorders and 40 healthy patients as a control group, were analysed between June 2004 and June 2005. All patients underwent acoustic pharyngometry to evaluate the mouth and hypopharynx based on an explanatory chart. RESULTS: A significant difference in parameters was observed between sleep disorder patients and the control group, especially in the amplitude of the I wave (significantly lower in patients with macroglossia), the extension of the O-F segment, and the amplitude of the O-F segment and hypopharyngeal area. CONCLUSION: Although not a standardized test, acoustic pharyngometry was proved to be a useful method both in the diagnosis and severity of obstructive sleep apnea, and in post-operative monitoring of upper airway surgery in patients with sleep disorders.

A faringometria acústica: correlações clínico-instrumentais nos distúrbios do sono / Acoustic pharyngometry: clinical and instrumental correlations in sleep disorders

A faringometria acústica representa um método atual baseado no principio físico da reflexão acústica, útil à análise volumétrica do espaço orofaringolaringotraqueal. OBJETIVO: Este estudo se propõe a avaliar as variações dos parâmetros faringométricos em indivíduos portadores de distúrbios respiratórios do sono (DRS), para estabelecer uma relação entre as variações morfovolumétricas do espaço orofaringolaríngeo e a existência e gravidade da patologia. FORMA DE ESTUDO: Clínico e experimental. MATERIAL E MÉTODO: Foram examinados 110 pacientes, 70 com DRS e 40 normais, durante o período de Junho/04 a Junho/05. Todos os pacientes foram submetidos à faringometria acústica que permitiu uma avaliação da área oro e hipofaríngea através de um gráfico explicativo. RESULTADOS: Os parâmetros obtidos nos pacientes com DRS mostraram uma importante diferença com respeito ao grupo controle, principalmente na amplitude da I onda (significantemente menor nos pacientes com macroglossia), na extensão do segmento OF, na amplitude do segmento OF e na área hipofaríngea. COLCLUSÃO: A faringometria acústica, mesmo não sendo uma técnica padronizada, pode auxiliar no diagnóstico das síndromes obstrutivas do sono, na localização dos possíveis pontos de obstrução e da gravidade da patologia, e no monitoramento dos pacientes submetidos a cirurgias desobstrutivas das vias aéreas superiores.

Acoustic Pharyngometry is a modern diagnostic method based on physical principle of acoustic reflection. It is useful for volume analysis of oro-pharyngo-laryngeal spaces. AIM: To evaluate variations of pharyngometric parameters in patients with sleep disorders and to establish a correlation between morpho-volumetric variations of oro-pharyngo-laryngeal spaces and the presence and severity of disease. STUDY DESIGN: a clinical and experimental study. MATERIAL AND METHOD: 110 patients, of which 70 with sleep disorders and 40 healthy patients as a control group, were analysed between June 2004 and June 2005. All patients underwent acoustic pharyngometry to evaluate the mouth and hypopharynx based on an explanatory chart. RESULTS: A significant difference in parameters was observed between sleep disorder patients and the control group, especially in the amplitude of the I wave (significantly lower in patients with macroglossia), the extension of the O-F segment, and the amplitude of the O-F segment and hypopharyngeal area. CONCLUSION: Although not a standardized test, acoustic pharyngometry was proved to be a useful method both in the diagnosis and severity of obstructive sleep apnea, and in post-operative monitoring of upper airway surgery in patients with sleep disorders.