Year : 2019

Volume : Volume 10

Issue : Issue 4

Address for correspondence :
Dr. Vikash Ranjan.
drvikashomdr@rediffmail.com

Abstract

Background:  Snoring which falls within the spectrum of sleep-related breathing disorders considered to be common symptom of airway obstruction. Over the years, lateral cephalometric radiography has become one of the standard diagnostic tools to evaluate skeletal and soft tissue abnormalities contributing to obstruction, and have been the most common imaging method in evaluating the patients with sleep disordered breathing (SDB). To analyze the pharyngeal space in retroglossal region and in the region of hypopharynx at the level of epiglottis as well as it’s relation with height and weight of the individuals.  Materials and Methods: The study was conducted among 60 participants age 21-50 years and were equally divided into snorers and non snorers. Lateral cephalogram was taken maintaining the exposure parameters and DIGORA software was used for soft tissue parameters. Two parameters analyzed were distance of posterior pharynx from tip of the epiglottis and distance of epiglottis from tip of soft palate. Height and weight of the patient were also calculated and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. Paired ‘t’ test was used for statistical analysis.  Results: Retroglossal length was found to be more among snorers compared to non snorers and snorers were found to have direct co-relationship with height among snorers.  Conclusion: Pharyngeal space was found to be less at level of tip of epiglottis and found to have a positive relationship with the weight of the study participants.

Keywords: Snoring, lateral cephalogram, epiglottis, pharynx, epiglottis closure, sleep endoscopy.