title: Comparison of cone-beam computed tomography incidental findings between patients with moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea and mild obstructive sleep apnea/healthy patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to compare the incidental radiographic findings in the maxillofacial structures and the pharyngeal airway between subjects with moderate/severe obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and mild OSA/healthy subjects using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 53 subjects with moderate/severe OSA (with a Respiratory Disturbance Index [RDI] ≥ 15 events/h) and 33 mild OSA/healthy subjects (RDI < 15), based on ambulatory somnographic assessment, were recruited. Supine CBCTs were taken and sent for radiological report. The incidental findings were compared between the 2 groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Moderate/severe subjects had larger prevalence of conchae bullosa, hypertrophic turbinates, hypertrophic tonsils, elongated or posteriorly placed soft palate, narrower airway, enlarged tongue, and focal calcifications, although no significant differences were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBCT is useful in identifying maxillofacial and airway anomalies that could interfere with normal breathing; however, no significant difference was found in prevalence of incidental findings between subjects with moderate/severe OSA and mild OSA/healthy subjects. Further studies are necessary to generalize our results.
authors.affiliation: Division of Dental Public Health and Pediatric Dentistry, Ostrow School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089-0641, USA. renciso@usc.edu
authors.forename: Reyes
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Enciso
authors.forename: Yuko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shigeta
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Glenn T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005147:Facial Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005928:Glossitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D033162:Incidental Findings; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014066:Palatine Tonsil / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010608:Pharyngeal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010614:Pharynx / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000145:classification / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D014059:Tongue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014420:Turbinates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D044465:White People