Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Upper Airway Structure of Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Title: Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Upper Airway Structure of Children with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

Authors: Raanan Arens, Joseph M. McDonough, Andrew T. Costarino, Soroosh Mahboubi, Catherine E. Tayag-Kier, Greg Maislin, Richard J. Schwab, adn Allan I. Pack

Published: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Vol. 164. pp 698-703, 2001

Summary: They state that "We conclude that in children with moderate OSAS, the upper airway is restricted both by the adenoids and the tonsils; however, the soft palate is also larger in this group, adding further restriction."

Subjects with OSAS:"Eighteen children were recruited from the pool of patients evaluated for sleep-disordered breathing at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA). After OSAS was confirmed by polysomnography, patients were allowed to undergo MRI of the upper airway under sedation."

Control Subjects:"Eighteen Children with normal growth and development were matched to subjects with OSAS by age, sex, ethnicity, weight, and height. Control subjects were selected from patients who underwent head MRI at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for other medical indications."