Sleep apnea syndrome: comparison of MR imaging of the oropharynx with physiologic indexes.

Abstract
PURPOSE: To compare magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the oropharynx in patients with sleep apnea syndrome with fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy, and oropharyngeal pressure and apnea index values. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After sleep induction, 24 patients with sleep apnea syndrome and nine patients with non-sleep-apnea snoring underwent MR imaging and fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopy combined with subsequent measurement of oropharyngeal pressure. Patients were previously classified with apnea index values obtained at polysomnography. MR imaging and fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopic findings of severity and location of oropharyngeal abnormalities were compared. Oropharyngeal pressure and apnea index values were also compared with MR findings. RESULTS: A statistically significant correlation was observed between MR and fiberoptic nasopharyngoscopic findings (r = .931; P < .0001). The degree of decompression in oropharyngeal pressure and apnea index values in the multiple-site abnormality group were statistically signif...

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