Utility of tongue root Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Ultrasound Elastography in Determination of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk
Mehmet Ali Ikidag1, Mahmut Oksuzler21Department of Radiology, SANKO University Sani Konukoğlu Hospital, Gaziantep, Türkiye, 2Department of Radiology, Health Sciences University, Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Türkiye Department of Radiology, Health Sciences University, Bozyaka Training and Research Hospital, İzmir, Türkiye
Objectives: The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of tongue root Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse (ARFI) Ultrasound Elastography in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) risk. Methods: Patients who were referred to our ultrasonography department for different reasons were asked to participate to the study. All subjects filled in a Berlin Sleep Questionnaire (BQ) after the tongue root ARFI elastography examination. The measurements were obtained via a 1.5x1.5 mm box, two valid measurements were recorded from the center of each quadrant of tongue root, both in axial and sagittal sections. Subjects with two or more positive categories according to BQ were regarded as high risk for OSAS. Results: One hundred and thirty-two subjects (35 males and 97 females) were enrolled in the study. The mean age of the participants was 47.25±27.60 years (18-95), and the mean BMI was 27.60±5.05 kg/m2 (17.71- 43.25). Forty-six subjects (34.8%) were normal weighted, 44 (33.3%) were overweight, and 42 (31.8%) were obese. According to BQ, 52 subjects (39.4%) were in high-risk group, and 80 (60.6%) were in low-risk group for OSAS. There was no statistically significant relationship between high risk and low risk participants regarding axial or sagittal ARFI velocities. There was a statistically significant correlation between obesity and axial mean ARFI velocities. The axial mean velocities were lower in obese participants than normal and overweight ones, and lower in overweight participants than normal ones (p=0.028). No significant difference was found between the sagittal ARFI Elastography measurements of obese and non-obese subjects in the high-risk group (p=0.165). Mean axial ARFI measurement of obese subjects was significantly lower than other individuals (p=0.039) irrespective of OSA risk category. Conclusion: Tongue root ARFI Elastography results are different among BMI groups, axial ARFI Elastography measurements of obese subjects were found to be lower than other individuals, but it is not a useful tool to differentiate low and high risk OSAS groups. Keywords: ARFI, elastography, sleep apnea, tongue
Cite This Article
Ikidag M, Oksuzler M. Utility of tongue root Acoustic Radiation Force Impulse Ultrasound Elastography in Determination of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Risk. EJMI. 2022; 6(4): 424-428
Corresponding Author: Mehmet Ali Ikidag