title: The influence of the lateral pharyngeal wall anatomy on snoring and sleep apnoea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate the variations of the lateral pharyngeal wall anatomy on physical examination and to assess the clinical importance of the examination of the lateral pharyngeal wall on the presence and severity of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  The cross-sectional study was conducted at Ege University Medical School, Izmir, Turkey, between May 2010 and April 2011. The patients were divided into four equal groups: Group 1--snoring without apnoea (age 20-40); Group 2--snoring without apnoea (age 40-60); Group 3--apnoea-hypopnoea index < 5/hr; Group 4: apnoea-hypopnoea index > 30/hr. Calibrated oropharynx pictures were taken. Distance between palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, height of palatoglossal and palatopharyngeal arches, uvula width, uvula length and distance between tonsils were measured. SPSS 17 was used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 80 patients in the study, 44 (55%) were men. Mean distance between palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal arches were 1.55 ± 0.34 cm and 2.70 ± 0.43 cm respectively. Mean height of palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal arches were 0.60 ± 0.21 cm and 1.37 ± 0.36 cm respectively (p > 0.05). Mean uvula width and uvula length were 0.80 ± 0.12cm and 1.25 ± 0.27 cm respectively (p > 0.05). Mean distance between tonsils was 2.24 ± 0.56 cm (p > 0.05). Distance between palatopharyngeal arches was significantly different between groups 3 and 4 (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Palatopharyngeal arch anatomy was found to be significantly associated with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome severity, especially in patients with normal or small tonsil size. Patients with the palatopharyngeal arches, which narrow the oropharyngeal inlet more than the tonsils, should further be investigated with polysomnography.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Korhan
authors.forename: Sercan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gode
authors.forename: Rasit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Midilli
authors.forename: Ozen Kacmaz
authors.initials: OK
authors.lastname: Basoglu
mesh_terms: D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000473:pathology; D010614:Pharynx / Q000473:pathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000473:pathology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000473:pathology*; D014421:Turkey; D014609:Uvula / Q000473:pathology