Craniofacial cephalometric evaluation in habitual snorers with and without obstructive sleep apnea.
Cephalometry has been used to evaluate soft tissue and craniofacial dimensions in moderate-to-severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA), but rarely in habitual snoring, the preclinical stage of OSA. This study deals with craniofacial bone measurements in a sample of 28 male habitual snorers with and without OSA, and 10 healthy non-snorers. Habitual snorers showed a significant decrease in sagittal dimensions of the cranial base and mandibular bone; there was also a shorter maxilla in group B (apnea plus hypopnea index more than 10) with respect to group A (apnea plus hypopnea index less or equal to 10). Facial height and angle dimensions were not different between snorers and non-snorers. These findings indicate that some habitual snorers may have some anatomic disposition to upper airway obstruction during sleep.
Zucconi
M
M
Department of Neurology, H San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy.
Ferini-Strambi
L
L
Palazzi
S
S
Curci
C
C
Cucchi
E
E
Smirne
S
S
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002508:Cephalometry; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012886:Skull / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000473:pathology; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology*