Evaluation of the human airway using cone-beam computerized tomography

• Published in: Oral surgery, oral medicine, oral pathology, oral radiology and endodontics Vol. 108; no. 5; pp. 768 - 776
• Main Authors: Tso, Hung Hsiag, Lee, Janice S., Huang, John C., Maki, Koutaro, Hatcher, David, Miller, Arthur J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Mosby, Inc 01.11.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Airway Obstruction - diagnostic imaging; Anatomy, Cross-Sectional; Biological and medical sciences; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Female; Humans; Imaging, Three-Dimensional; Male; Medical sciences; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Pharynx - diagnostic imaging; Pharynx - pathology; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; Human; Respiratory tract; Evaluation; Medical imagery; Computerized axial tomography; Radiodiagnosis
• ISSN: 1079-2104; 1528-395X; 1528-395X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tripleo.2009.05.026

The goal of this project was to define and measure human airway space with radiographic volumetric 3-dimensional imaging and digital reconstruction of the pharynx using cone-beam computerized tomography. This was a randomized retrospective study. Ten patient scans were selected randomly from a pool of 196 subjects seeking dental treatment at the University of California, San Francisco. Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine–format volume images were captured using a low-radiation rapid-scanning cone-beam computerized tomography system (Hitachi MercuRay). Detailed progressive rostrocaudal cross-sectional area histograms indicated that 8 of the 10 subjects demonstrated a region of maximum constriction near the oropharynx level. The most restricted cross-sectional area varied from 90 mm 2 to 360 mm 2. The maximum constriction of the airway in 10 subjects quietly breathing for 10 seconds indicated variation in the level of the pharynx and the extent of the rostrocaudal zone of restriction.