Abstract:

Objective To investigate the correlation between the measurement of 3-D maxillary sinus and the severity of patient with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.
Methods Seventy-nine patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) received CT scan. Then the images of maxillary sinuses were segmented and reconstructed in order to form 3-D image. Correlation analyses were made between the measurements of the 3-D maxillary sinuses and apnea and hypopnea index(AHI), the lowest oxygen saturation(LSaO₂).
Results The parameters of the maxillary sinus positively correlated with AHI, particularly the volume, coefficient of pneumatolysis, the length of the X axis. The asymmetry of the development of maxillary sinuses did influence the severity of OSAHS. No correlation was found between LSaO₂ and the shape of maxillary sinus.
Conclusion The development of maxillary sinus affects the structure of the facial cranium, in particular the nasal cavity; the facial cranium, in turn, may have an influence on the dimensions of maxillary sinus. The correlation between severity of OSAHS and the dimension of maxillary sinuses suggest that upper airway obstruction may result from abnormalities of bony canal, especially the nasal cavity.

Key words: morphology of maxillary sinus, obstructive hypopnea syndrom sleep apnea, computed tomography, image segmentation, threedimensional reconstruction