Lowe A A, Gionhaku N, Takeuchi K, Fleetham J A
Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop. 1986 Nov;90(5):364-74. doi: 10.1016/0889-5406(86)90002-8.
The interaction between airway and tongue structures in a sample of 25 adult men with obstructive sleep apnea was quantified on the basis of a series of preoperative CT slices obtained for each subject. Tracings were completed for tongue, and right and left nasal, nasopharynx, oropharynx, and hypopharynx structures; computer graphics were used to obtain superior and lateral three-dimensional reconstructions of all structures for each subject. In addition, cross-sectional areas of specific sites of airway constriction, surface area, volume, and ratio calculations were completed. The majority of the constrictions occurred in the oropharynx (0.52 +/- 0.18 cm2), but six subjects had two constrictions--one in the oropharynx and one in the hypopharynx. The airway had a mean volume of 13.89 +/- 5.33 cm3, whereas tongue volume ranged from 44.03 to 99.56 cm3 with a mean of 71.96 +/- 13.41 cm3. Subjects with more severe obstructive sleep apnea tended to have larger tongue and smaller airway volumes. The more obese subjects showed larger tongue surface areas and smaller airway surface areas. To determine the structural relationships between airway and tongue variables, a series of logarithmic plots was determined. An isometric relationship characterized tongue surface area and tongue volume. A logarithmic plot of oropharyngeal airway vs. tongue volume showed a negative allometric relationship. Tongue volume increased more rapidly than airway volume in subjects with obstructive sleep apnea. Subjects with large tongue volumes were observed to experience significant complications at the time of surgical treatment. Quantification of the volume of the oropharynx and its relationship to tongue volume provide an overview of the interaction between these structures.
基于为25名患有阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的成年男性患者每人获取的一系列术前CT切片，对气道与舌结构之间的相互作用进行了量化。完成了对舌以及左右鼻腔、鼻咽、口咽和下咽结构的描图；使用计算机图形技术为每个受试者获取了所有结构的三维上视图和侧视图重建图像。此外，还完成了气道狭窄特定部位的横截面积、表面积、体积及比例计算。大多数狭窄发生在口咽（0.52±0.18平方厘米），但有6名受试者有两处狭窄——一处在口咽，一处在下咽。气道的平均体积为13.89±5.33立方厘米，而舌体积在44.03至99.56立方厘米之间，平均为71.96±13.41立方厘米。患有更严重阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的受试者往往舌体积较大而气道体积较小。肥胖程度越高的受试者舌表面积越大，气道表面积越小。为了确定气道与舌变量之间的结构关系，绘制了一系列对数图。舌表面积与舌体积呈等轴关系。口咽气道与舌体积的对数图显示为负异速生长关系。在患有阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停的受试者中，舌体积的增长比气道体积快。观察到舌体积大的受试者在手术治疗时出现了严重并发症。对口咽体积及其与舌体积的关系进行量化，可概述这些结构之间的相互作用。
