THE RESULTS OF THE OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA PATIENTS' CEPHALOMETRIC ANALYSES
1Karaelmas Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, KBB Anabilim Dalı, Zonguldak, Türkiye2Kars Devlet Hastanesi, KBB, Kars, Türkiye
3Maltepe Üniversitesi Tıp Fakültesi, KBB Anabilim Dalı, İstanbul, Türkiye
4Fatih Sultan Mehmet Eğitim ve Araştırma Hastanesi, KBB, İstanbul, Türkiye Aim: In this study the value of cephalometry on the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) was discussed.
Patients and Method: 60 patients (19 female, 41 male) with prediagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, were investigated. The age of the patients ranged from 26 to 66 years (mean age 44,2 years). The cephalometric and polisomnographic evaluations were done in all cases. Cephalometric width, angles, and areas were measured by various conventional parameters. Polisomnographic and cephalometric results were analysed with Mann Whitney-U and Pearson ‘s bilateral correlation test
Results: In 40 of 60 cases the apnea-hipopnea index was found to be more than 5, and these cases were grouped as OSAS (+). 20 patients, whose polisomnographic results were found to be normal, were grouped as OSAS (-). According to cephalometric analyses; the most important parameter in the pathogenesis and the degree of apnea in OSAS (+) cases, is the inferior localization of hyoid bone. Posterior localization and enlargement of the tongue, lower and short orientation of the palatum, thickening of soft palate, were among the findings of the OSAS (+) cases. Patients with increased body mass index together with short back-face hight and narrow angle of skull base tend to have more apnea.
Conclusion: Due to its cheapness, easy avaibility, and standardization, cephalometric investigations were found to have great value on the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
Keywords : Cephalometery, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome