UPPER AIRWAY IMAGING

Upper airway imaging is a powerful technique to study the mechanisms u nderlying the pathogenesis, biomechanics, and efficacy of treatment op tions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Imaging studies have p rovided significant insight into the static and dynamic structure, and function of the upper airway and surrounding soft-tissue structure du ring wakefulness and sleep. Upper airway imaging modalities primarily include nasopharyngoscopy, cephalometrics, computed tomography (CT), a nd magnetic resonance (MR) scanning. These imaging modalities have bee n used to study the effect of respiration, weight loss, dental applian ces, and upper airway surgery on the upper airway MR imaging and CT ha ve allowed quantification of the airway and surrounding soft-tissue st ructures in three dimensions. Clinical indications for upper airway im aging are evolving for patients being treated with dental appliances a nd upper airway surgery.