Sirwan Fernandez Gurani1,2, Paolo Maria Cattaneo2,3, Søren Rafael Rafaelsen2,4, Malene Roland Pedersen2,4, Jens Jørgen Thorn1, Else Marie Pinholt1,2. 1. Department of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of South West Denmark, University Hospital of Southern Denmark, Esbjerg, Denmark. 2. Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark. 3. Section of Orthodontics, Department of Dentistry and Oral Health, Faculty of Health Science, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark. 4. Department of Radiology, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of altered head or tongue posture on upper airway (UA) volumes using MRI imaging based on a new objective and validated UA evaluation protocol. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: One supine CBCT and five sagittal MRI scans were obtained from ten subjects in different head and tongue positions: (a) supine neutral head position (NHP) with the tongue in a natural resting position with the tip of the tongue in contact with the lingual aspect of the lower incisors (TRP); (b) head extension with TRP; (c) head flexion with TRP; (d) NHP with the tip of the tongue in contact with the posterior edge of the hard palate (THP); and (e) NHP with the tip of the tongue in contact with the floor of the mouth in contact with the caruncula sublingualis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on a validated CBCT UA analysis, the retropalatal, oropharyngeal and the corresponding total volumes were measured from each MRI scan. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to determine the statistically significant difference in mean volume between the baseline head and tongue posture (NHP with TRP) and the other postures. RESULTS: Five females and five males with a mean age of 46.5 ± 13.7 years volunteered for this pilot study. UA volumes, particularly the oropharyngeal volume, increased significantly with head extension and NHP with THP and decreased significantly with head flexion. CONCLUSION: Altered head and tongue posture proved to affect UA volumes, thus representing confounding variables during three-dimensional radiographic image acquisition.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the influence of altered head or tongue posture on upper airway (UA) volumes using MRI imaging based on a new objective and validated UA evaluation protocol. SETTING AND SAMPLE POPULATION: One supine CBCT and five sagittal MRI scans were obtained from ten subjects in different head and tongue positions: (a) supine neutral head position (NHP) with the tongue in a natural resting position with the tip of the tongue in contact with the lingual aspect of the lower incisors (TRP); (b) head extension with TRP; (c) head flexion with TRP; (d) NHP with the tip of the tongue in contact with the posterior edge of the hard palate (THP); and (e) NHP with the tip of the tongue in contact with the floor of the mouth in contact with the caruncula sublingualis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Based on a validated CBCT UA analysis, the retropalatal, oropharyngeal and the corresponding total volumes were measured from each MRI scan. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was applied to determine the statistically significant difference in mean volume between the baseline head and tongue posture (NHP with TRP) and the other postures. RESULTS: Five females and five males with a mean age of 46.5 ± 13.7 years volunteered for this pilot study. UA volumes, particularly the oropharyngeal volume, increased significantly with head extension and NHP with THP and decreased significantly with head flexion. CONCLUSION: Altered head and tongue posture proved to affect UA volumes, thus representing confounding variables during three-dimensional radiographic image acquisition.
Authors: Alexandru Diaconu; Michael Boelstoft Holte; Paolo Maria Cattaneo; Else Marie Pinholt Journal: Dentomaxillofac Radiol Date: 2021-11-08 Impact factor: 2.419
Authors: Ning Zhou; Jean-Pierre T F Ho; Cornelis Klop; Ruud Schreurs; Ludo F M Beenen; Ghizlane Aarab; Jan de Lange Journal: PLoS One Date: 2021-11-05 Impact factor: 3.240