Abstract:ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical significance of CT scan in the localization of upper airway stricture in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).MethodsMultislice spiral CT was adopted in continuous scanning manner to evaluate the region from top of nasopharynx to glottis. With district apply image workstation, the crosssectional areas and lengths of their path lines at the level of soft palate, uvula, tongue and epiglottis were measured. Meanwhile, the thicknesses of their lateral and posterior walls were detected. In this study, 88 health adults were included to establish the normal ranges of abovementioned parameters. The results obtained from 82 OSAHS patients were compared with those from the normal controls.ResultsOf all the 82 OSAHS patients, one stricture site was detected in 17 cases: retropalatal stenosis in 5 cases, retrouvula stenosis in 4, retroglossal stenosis in 6, and retroepiglottic stenosis in 2.45 patients had two adjacent stricture sites including combined retropalatal stenosis and retrouvula stenosis in 26 cases, retrouvula stenosis and retroglossal stenosis in 15, retroglossal stenosis and retroepiglottic stenosis in 4. Combined retropalatal stenosis, retrouvula stenosis and retroglossal stenosis were detected in 20 patients. Detection of minimal mean crosssection areas of upper airway of 88 health adults in waking revealed the minimal crosssection area at retrouvula level followed by retroglossal level, and maximal crosssection area at retroepiglottic level. The length and thickness of soft palate in OSAHS group were greater than those in the control group respectively, which suggested that the lengthening and thickening of soft palate might be the causes of pharyngeal stricture.ConclusionsAnatomic stricture of upper airway might occur in most OSAHS patients. Multislice spiral CT can localize the upper airway stricture accurately, which facilitates improvement of therapeutic effect on the specific surgical treatment for OSAHS.