The purpose of this study is to assess the role of dynamic MR imaging in the evaluation of obstructive sleep apnea. In this
prospective study, MRI was performed in 22 patients (eighteen male and four female, ranging in age from 26 to 70 years) suspected
of having obstructive sleep aponea (OSA). 18 of them had a polysomnography study prior to MRI evaluation, which confirmed
the presence of OSA. Positive cases were classified according to anatomic location and cause of narrowing. Patients with isolated
retropalatal narrowing on MRI were advised uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP). Two patients had normal findings on MRI, 8 patients
had retropalatal narrowing, five had retroglossal narrowing and seven had narrowing at multiple levels. All twenty-patients
had collapse of lateral pharyngeal wall. Four patient with isolated retropalatal narrowing, who underwent UPPP after MRI evaluation
were found to be cured on 6 month postoperative follow up.
Dynamic MR imaging can accurately diagnose the cause and level of upper airway narrowing in patients with OSA. It can characterize
and anatomically classify the level of narrowing for planning reparative surgery.
Keywords MR imaging - Obstructive sleep aponea - Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty