Cervical CT derived neck fat tissue distribution differences in Japanese males and females and its effect on retroglossal and retropalatal airway volume.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to investigate the difference of neck fat tissue distribution by sex and its correlation with retropalatal and retroglossal airway.


METHODS
A total of 38 consecutive patients (male: 19; female: 19) who received a CT scan were compared in the retroglossal region and at the narrowest cross section of the airway. Retroglossal fat tissue volume (FV) was segmented with Amira software and separated into subcutaneous and internal fat volume (SFV, IFV). These volumes were normalized by retroglossal neck volume (NV).


RESULTS
Men had 51.9% more IFV/NV and 64.4% less SFV/NV compared with women. Age-adjusted BMI was negatively correlated with retroglossal airway volume (normalized by NV) and with the lateral width of the smallest cross-section airway (LW) in females. In males the IFV/NV was negatively correlated with LW, after adjusting for BMI and age.


CONCLUSIONS
Upper airway collapsibility analysis is needed to rule out whether increased BMI or IFV causes an increase in airway collapsibility.
Orofacial Pain/Oral Medicine Center, Division of Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA 90089-0641, USA.
Yuko
Y
Shigeta
Reyes
R
Enciso
Takumi
T
Ogawa
Tomoko
T
Ikawa
Glenn T
GT
Clark
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000367:Age Factors; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional / Q000379:methods; D015992:Body Mass Index; D004825:Epiglottis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D024343:Open Bite / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010159:Palate / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012737:Sex Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012913:Snoring / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050151:Subcutaneous Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013705:Temporomandibular Joint Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014059:Tongue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014609:Uvula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging