title: Oropharyngeal scintigraphy: a computerized analysis of swallowing in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: This study examines the oropharyngeal-upper esophageal scintigraphic transit in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome, as well as the effect of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) on this transit. Scintigraphy is a safe, noninvasive test that is suitable as a screening test for oropharyngoesophageal motor disorders. A qualitative and quantitative evaluation of the swallowed radionuclide bolus was performed in 47 patients by means of a Cine Mode visual inspection and by computerized analysis. Three groups of patients were studied and compared: group 1, 10 healthy patients; group 2, 18 OSA patients before UPPP; and group 3, 19 OSA patients 6 months up to 2 years after UPPP. Oropharyngoesophageal scintigraphy was normal in 90% of group 1 patients (9/10) as well as in group 3, where 95% of patients (18/19) had a normal transit unlinked to the degree of improvement in the respiratory disturbance index. The radionuclide transit was abnormal in 79% OSA patients (15/18) in group 2. Statistically significant differences of mean transit abnormalities between the three groups were found (P = 0.0001). Moreover, mean transit abnormalities in the OSA patients before UPPP were statistically significantly lower than in the group of patients after UPPP (56.2% vs 87.4, P < 0.05).
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery, Hasharon Hospital-Golda Medical Center, Petach-Tiqwa, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zohar
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Grusko
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sulkes
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Melloul
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003679:Deglutition; D004947:Esophagus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010159:Palate / Q000601:surgery; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery