Three-dimensional imaging of the upper airway anatomy in obstructive sleep apnea: a systematic review

Publication date: Available online 5 April 2016
Source:Sleep Medicine
Author(s): Hui Chen, Ghizlane Aarab, Maurits H.T. de Ruiter, Jan de Lange, Frank Lobbezoo, Paul F. van der Stelt
IntroductionThe pathogenesis of upper airway collapse in people with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is not fully understood. The aim of this study was to systematically review the literature in order to assess the most relevant anatomical characteristics of the upper airway related to the pathogenesis of OSA by analyzing the three-dimensional upper airway anatomy.MethodA PICO (population/patient, intervention, comparison, outcome) search strategy, focusing on the upper airway anatomy of people with OSA, was conducted in the following databases: Medline (Pubmed), Excerpta medica database (EMBASE), Web of science, and Cochrane library. The studies in which three-dimensional images were made from the participants who were awake and in the supine position during quiet breathing were selected in this systematic review.ResultsOf the 758 unique retrieved studies, eight fulfilled the criteria for this systematic review. The minimum cross-sectional area of the upper airways of people with OSA, which is influenced by many factors such as hard and soft tissues surrounding the upper airway, was significantly smaller than that of those without OSA.ConclusionWithin the limitation of the selected studies, this systematic review suggested that a small minimum cross-sectional area is the most relevant anatomical characteristic of the upper airway related to the pathogenesis of OSA.



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