[A magnetic resonance imaging research of upper airway and surrounding tissues of 83 non-snoring males].
OBJECTIVE
To obtain the data about morphology of upper airway and surrounding tissues of non-snoring males from three age groups.


METHODS
Through questionnaires and clinic examinations, 83 non-snoring males (20-60 years) were selected from 453 volunteers and involved in the following research. There were 30 volunteers aged from 22 to 29 (mean 23.60+/-2.58 years), 31 volunteers aged from 36 to 45 (mean 40.10+/-2.64 years) and 22 volunteers aged from 46 to 57 (mean 49.55+/-3.45 years). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of upper airway of each volunteer was acquired under strict posture-control conditions. The dimensions and cross-section area of nasopharynx, velopharynx, glossopharynx, hypopharynx and whole upper airway with its surrounding tissues were measured with MRI intrinsic software. Volumes of upper airway and surrounding tissues were also calculated.


RESULTS
There were 93 items about morphology of the upper airway and surrounding tissues of non-snoring males from the three age groups. With increase in age, some nasopharynx items showed increase tendency, while little change showed in velopharynx, glossopharynx and hypopharynx. Fat volume, tongue volume, anterior and posterior pharyngeal dimension showed age-related increase tendency, but fat deposition rate slowed down in elder age in non-snoring males, which supplies the reason why non-snoring males avoided becoming sleep apnea patients.


CONCLUSIONS
We provide age-related reference data of upper airway and its surrounding tissues for further sleep and respiration research.
Li
Xiang-dong
XD
Department of Orthodontics, Peking University School of Stomatology, Beijing 100081,China.
Gao
Xue-mei
XM
Zeng
Xiang-long
XL
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010609:Pharyngeal Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012913:Snoring; D014059:Tongue / Q000033:anatomy & histology