CBCT assessment of upper airway changes and treatment outcomes of obstructive sleep apnoea: a systematic review.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to review studies using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) to assess dimensional changes in the upper airway after appliance or surgical therapy in subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea and to correlate CBCT findings with treatment outcome.


METHODS
Several electronic databases were searched. Studies that met selection criteria were evaluated using a customized evaluation tool.


RESULTS
Study parameters were met in seven articles. Fifty adults were assessed using CBCT 1.6-10 months after appliance therapy or maxillary mandibular advancement surgery with or without genial tubercle advancement. Airway parameters measured were linear, cross-sectional (CS) area, volume or airway function. In only two validated surgical case reports, airway volume increased by 6.5-9.7 cm(3) (>80 %) and minimum CS area by 0.1-1.2 cm(2) (21 and 269 %).


CONCLUSIONS
The available published studies show evidence of CBCT measured anatomic airway changes with surgery and dental appliance treatment for OSA. There is insufficient literature pertaining to the use of CBCT to assess treatment outcomes to reach a conclusion. High-quality evidence level studies, with statistically appropriate sample sizes and cross validated clinically, are needed to determine if CBCT airway dimensional changes are suitable for assessment of treatment outcome.
Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada. alsufyan@ualberta.ca
Noura A
NA
Alsufyani
Mohammed A Q
MA
Al-Saleh
Paul W
PW
Major
D000328:Adult; D000403:Airway Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D019186:Mandibular Advancement; D008437:Maxilla / Q000601:surgery; D017090:Occlusal Splints; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome