Rhino-sinus involvement in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is commonly associated with adenotonsillar hypertrophy. We hypothesized that respiratory perturbations extend to other regions of the upper respiratory tract in such children, particularly to rhino-sinus regions.


METHODS
A prospective case control study using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) of the upper airway and surrounding tissues of OSAS and controls. Magnetic resonance imaging was used to evaluate radiographic changes within the: paranasal sinuses, middle ear and mastoid air cells, and the nasal passages.


RESULTS
We studied 54 OSAS (age 5.7 ± 3.0 years) and 54 controls (age 6.2 ± 2.0 years, P = NS). Children with OSAS had significantly more opacification of: maxillary sinuses (P < 0.05), sphenoid sinuses (P < 0.01), and mastoid air cells (P < 0.01). They also had significantly more: middle ear effusions, (P < 0.001), prominence of inferior nasal turbinate(s) (P < 0.05), and deviation of the nasal septum (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Childhood OSAS is associated with a wide range of upper respiratory tract perturbations and is not limited to adenoid and tonsillar hypertrophy.
Arens
Raanan
R
Division of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, The Children's Hospital at Montefiore, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10467, USA. rarens@montefiore.org
Sin
Sanghun
S
Willen
Seth
S
Bent
John
J
Parikh
Sanjay R
SR
Freeman
Katherine
K
Wootton
David M
DM
McDonough
Joseph M
JM
Shifteh
Keivan
K
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004432:Ear, Middle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*