Dynamic upper airway soft-tissue and caliber changes in healthy subjects and snoring patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The oropharyngeal airways are smaller in those who snore than in those who do not. We sought to determine which soft-tissue component surrounding the airways contributes to upper airway narrowing in those who snore. METHODS: Ten control subjects and 19 snoring patients underwent CT, with 2-mm-thick axial sections obtained every 0.6 seconds during the respiration cycle at the same oropharyngeal level. We selected two sections with the widest and narrowest parts of the oropharyngeal airway to measure the anteroposterior and lateral dimensions of the airway and the thickness of the bilateral parapharyngeal fat pads, pterygoid muscles, and parapharyngeal walls. Mean values were calculated for each phase. For each subject, differences were calculated by subtracting the values in narrowest phase from those in the widest phase. RESULTS: Changes in airway dimension (P < .05) and lateral parapharyngeal wall thickness (P < .01) were significantly different between snorers and control subjects. Changes in parapharyngeal wall thickness and transverse oropharyngeal airway diameter changes were significantly related (P < .01) in those who snored but not in control subjects. CONCLUSION: Airway narrowing predominantly occurs in the lateral dimension in people who snore. Changes in the lateral pharyngeal wall are more important than the parapharyngeal fat pads in airway calibration. Narrowing of the upper airway area at the end of the expirium and the beginning of the inspirium is thought to be the cause of snoring and due to augmented muscle mass and prolonged laxity rather than inadequate activation of the pharyngeal dilating muscles.     

Does the Oropharyngeal Fat Tissue Influence the Oropharyngeal Airway in Snorers? Dynamic CT Study

Objective

The aim of this study was to determine if snorers have a narrower oropharyngeal airway area because of fat infiltration, and an elevated body mass index.

Materials and Methods

Ten control subjects and 19 patients that snored were evaluated. We obtained 2-mm-thick axial CT scan images every 0.6 seconds during expiration and inspiration at the same level of the oropharynx. We selected the largest and the smallest oropharyngeal airway areas and found the differences. From the slice that had the smallest oropharyngeal airway area, the thickness of the parapharyngeal and subcutaneous fat was measured. The measurements from the left and right side were added together and single values for parapharyngeal and subcutaneous fat tissue thickness were then found.

Results

The conventional measure of body mass index was significantly higher in the snorers (p < 0.05). The difference in the smallest oropharyngeal airway area between snorers and the controls was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The average difference between the largest and the smallest oropharyngeal area in the control group and the snorer group was statistically significant (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the largest oropharyngeal airway area, the total subcutaneous fat width and the total parapharyngeal fat width between snorers and control subjects (p > 0.05).

Conclusion

We concluded that the oropharyngeal fat deposition in snorers is not an important factor, and it does not predispose a person to the upper airway narrowing.     

阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征患者上气道的MRI研究

观察清醒状态下阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（ＯＳＡＳ）患者与正常对照组上气道及周围软组织的变化,并在睡眠状态下应用ＭＲＩ动态扫描对阻塞部位进行定位,探讨ＯＳＡＳ的发生机制及ＭＲＩ的应用价值。方法应用ＭＲＩ对２３例经多导睡眠监测（ｐｌｙｓｏｍｎｏｇｒａｐｈｙ,ＰＳＧ）确诊的ＯＳＡＳ患者及３０例无打鼾的健康成人进行上气道检查,于轴面图像测软腭后区（ｒｅｔｒｏｐａｌａｔａｌｒｅｇｉｏｎ,ＲＰｋｋｈｎｆｔｊ     

MR studies of extension and spread pattern of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Seven patients with T2-T4 nasopharyngeal carcinoma were examined by MRI on a 0.5T superconducting system. The obtained MRI images were reviewed focusing on the signal intensity (SI) of tumors, and the extension of tumors into the related spaces from the pharyngeal mucosal space (PMS). Consequently, the SI of tumors demonstrated low on T1 weighted images and high on T2 weighted images. The parapharyngeal space was the first space where the tumors extended from the pharyngeal mucosa. The parapharyngeal space was an intermediate point of extension to the masticator space (MS), the carotid space (CS), the retropharyngeal space (RPS), and the prevertebral space (PVS). The PVS involvement by tumors was not a direct extension from the PMS, because the posterior portion of pharyngobasilar fascia worked as a barrier on MR. Therefore, the longus capitus muscle in the prevertebral space was considered to be involved via the parapharyngeal space (PPS). The masticator space involvement was indicated by slightly high SI of pterygoid muscle on T2 weighted images, and also the effacement of the PPS fat and parapharyngeal venous plexus were considered as a sign of involvement into the masticator space. The retropharyngeal lateral lymph node (Rouviere) metastases were recognized by MR. These metastasized lymph nodes were low on T1 weighted images and high on T2 weighted images.     

Masticator space abscess derived from odontogenic infection: imaging manifestation and pathways of extension depicted by CT and MR in 30 patients

Propagation of odontogenic masticator space abscesses is insufficiently understood. The purpose was to analyse pathways of spread in 30 patients with odontogenic masticator space abscess. The imaging findings in 30 patients (CT in 30, MR in 16 patients) were retrospectively analysed. CT and MR imaging depicted a masticator space abscess within: medial pterygoid muscle in 13 patients (43.3%), lateral masseter and/or pterygoid muscle in 14 (46.7%) and superficial temporal muscle in 3 patients (10%). In the lateral masticator space intra-spatial abscess extension occurred in 7 of 14 patients (50%). The sub-masseteric space provided a pathway in seven (70%). Extra-spatial extension involved the submandibular space only in 3 of 14 patients (21.4%). Medial masticator space abscesses exhibited extra-spatial spread only. Extension affected the parapharyngeal space and/or soft palate in 7 of 13 lesions (53.8%). MR imaging in comparison to CT increased the number of abscess locations from 18 to 23 (27.8%) and regions affected by a cellular infiltrate from 12 to 16 (33.3%). The sub-masseteric space served as a previously underestimated pathway for intra-spatial propagation of lateral masticator abscesses. Medial masticator space abscesses tend to display early extra-spatial parapharyngeal space and/or soft palate extension.     

Separation of the masticator space from the parapharyngeal space

The separation of the masticator and parapharyngeal spaces is somewhat ambiguous. Anatomic specimens were dissected to define better the fascial layer representing the medial wall of the masticator space. A fascial layer was found extending from the medial pterygoid muscle to the skull base separating the masticator from the parapharyngeal space. The third branch of the trigeminal nerve was lateral to this fascial layer and thus passed through the masticator space. Clinical cases were reviewed. Tumors could be confidently assigned to the masticator, prestyloid, or poststyloid parapharyngeal spaces. Benign salivary gland tumors were found in the prestyloid parapharyngeal space only.     

MRI与CT在鼻咽癌诊断中的应用价值及分期系统比较

目的 评价MRI与CT检查在鼻咽癌诊断中的应用价值,并对鼻咽癌2008年分期、1992年福州分期及2002年国际抗癌联盟(UICC)分期系统进行比较.方法 分析76例鼻咽癌初诊患者MRI和CT影像资料,依据2008年分期以MRI为标准,评价MRI与CT对鼻咽癌新分期的差异.并以MRI为标准,比较鼻咽癌不同分期系统间的差异.MRI与CT对肿瘤侵犯范围比较采用McNemar法检验.结果 MRI判断鼻咽癌翼内肌(22例)、翼外肌(15例)、颅底(35例)及颅内(11例)侵犯方面与CT(分别为24、11、32、6例)存在差异,但无统计学意义(P＞0.05);MRI在判断咽旁间隙侵犯(50例)、咽后组淋巴结转移(48例)、T1期(18例)、T2期(15例)、N0期(18例)、N1期(33例)上,与CT(分别为61、23、11、22、24、27例)不一致者分别为11例、25例、7例、7例、6例及6例,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).CT多显示的11例咽旁间隙侵犯,MRI证实5例为咽旁间隙受压,6例为咽后组淋巴结转移,而MRI较CT共多显示咽后组淋巴结转移25例,以上2点为引起T、N分期差异的主要原因.鼻咽癌2008年分期与1992年分期比较,T分期上升9例,下降1例,N分期上升16例,临床分期上升15例,下降1例;与2002年UICC分期比较,T分期上升7例,N分期上升10例,临床分期上升12例.结论 与鼻咽癌2008分期规定的MR检查比较,CT在显示病变咽旁间隙侵犯及咽后组淋巴结转移方面存在较大差异.相对于1992年分期及2002年UICC分期,鼻咽癌2008分期主要使肿瘤T、N分期上升、临床分期上升.     

股四头肌脂肪垫和股前脂肪垫形态和信号特征与膝关节骨性关节炎的相关性研究

目的:探讨股四头肌脂肪垫(QFP)和股前脂肪垫(PFP)的形态和信号特征与膝关节放射学骨性关节炎(ROA)结构改变的关系.方法:回顾性分析纳入的60个临床资料齐全的膝关节X线和MRI检查图像资料,于矢状面PDW-SPAIR序列图像上定量测量QFP最大前后径、最大头尾径、最大斜径和最大面积及PFP的最大厚度.半定量评估Q...     

鼻咽癌咽旁间隙CT与MRI对照观察

目的准确认识鼻咽癌(NPC)咽旁间隙改变的CT征象。方法收集病理确诊的初诊NPC30例,同时行治疗前的CT和MRI检查。结果30例NPC咽旁间隙表现按CT所见分为以下四种情况,与其MRI表现作对照观察统计如下(1)CT所见咽旁间隙正常者MRI表现为前窄后宽的三角形线条状连续高信号脂肪影;(2)咽旁间隙CT表现为变窄伴线样低密影,在MRI上表现为咽旁间隙的高信号脂肪影受压,但仍连续无中断;(3)CT所见咽旁间隙变窄且密度增高,在MRI上表现为高信号脂肪影极度变窄,但仍可见连续;(4)CT所见咽旁间隙消失者,在MRI上咽旁间隙被肿块占据,翼外肌推移,其内侧脂肪间隙消失,但翼内、外肌信号正常或不正常。结论(1)CT上咽旁间隙变窄,且密度增高,但仍可见低于肌肉的线样影,肿块未突破咽旁间隙;(2)CT上咽旁间隙完全消失者,肿块可能跨过咽旁间隙达颞下窝。     

Image quality using dynamic MR imaging of the temporomandibular joint with true-FISP sequence.

We evaluated the quality of dynamic magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in 20 normal volunteers with 40 TMJs. To confirm TMJ, we obtained static proton density weighted images (PDWI) before performing dynamic MR imaging with true-fast imaging in a steady-state precession (true-FISP) sequence. Four sequences of the first 10 volunteers were examined to determine the optimal sequence. The 4 sequences included the integrated parallel acquisition technique (iPAT) and/or fat saturation technique. The optimal sequence was then determined and performed in all 20 volunteers. The quality of imaging was evaluated, especially with respect to the conspicuity of the articular disk, mandibular condyle, articular eminence and lateral pterygoid muscle. One of 3 confidence levels was assigned for this evaluation. Neither iPAT nor fat saturation obtained the best quality imaging. Detection rates in the 20 volunteers were 83% for the articular disk, 95% for the mandibular condyle, 96% for the articular eminence and 7.5% for the lateral pterygoid muscle. We recommend dynamic MR imaging of the TMJ with the true-FISP sequence using neither iPAT nor fat saturation. Nevertheless, dynamic MR imaging was inferior to static imaging in detecting the articular disk and still requires improvement.     

Exophthalmos caused by excessive fat: CT volumetric analysis and differential diagnosis

CT has proven to be excellent in identifying orbital pathology responsible for proptosis. Occasionally, no discrete mass or extraocular muscle enlargement to explain the exophthalmos is found, only an appearance suggestive of an abnormal increase in orbital fat volume. Fifteen patients were studied with proptosis apparently resulting from increased orbital fat. Clinical follow-up revealed that four of them had Graves orbitopathy, unilateral in one; two had Cushing disease/syndrome; and nine were obese without endocrinopathy. The orbital volume and percentage orbital fat volume were measured by CT software analysis in these patients and in a control group of 16 patients without proptosis. Measurements of proptosis and thickness of the scalp fat pad at the inion level were also performed. Significantly greater values for orbital fat volume, percentage fat volume, and proptosis were found in the proptosis group compared with the control group. There was excellent correlation between proptosis and percentage fat volume, supporting the contention that increased orbital fat is responsible for the proptosis. The thickness of the scalp fat pad at the inion level was significantly greater in obese and Cushing patients than in control subjects, but the thickness was not significantly greater in Graves patients than in controls. Proptosis and inion fat were well correlated (r = 0.74) in the control and obese patients, which suggests a relation between general body fat and orbital fat volume.     

口咽恶性肿瘤的CT诊断

目的　探讨口咽恶性肿瘤及其侵犯的CT表现。资料与方法　搜集 5 8例经临床和病理证实的口咽恶性肿瘤资料 ,其中扁桃体区 2 5例 (鳞状上皮细胞癌 17例 ,恶性淋巴瘤 8例 ) ,舌根 19例 (鳞状上皮细胞癌 15例 ,恶性淋巴瘤 4例 ) ,软腭 13例 (鳞状上皮细胞癌 12例 ,恶性淋巴瘤 1例 ) ,咽后壁鳞癌 1例 ,并对肿瘤及其侵犯的CT征象进行分析。结果　口咽不同部位的恶性肿瘤在CT上主要表现为相应部位的软组织肿块 ,边界欠清 ,有不同程度的强化。软腭恶性肿瘤颈淋巴结转移 2例 (P <0 .0 5 ) ,舌根和扁桃体恶性肿瘤颈淋巴结转移则分别为 11例和 14例(P >0 .0 5 ) ;翼内肌可被肿瘤侵犯 ,分别为软腭 5例 ,舌根 0例 ,扁桃体区 3例 ;腭舌沟改变为 ,软腭 6例 ,舌根 4例 ,扁桃体区 16例。结论　口咽不同部位的恶性肿瘤各有特点 ,CT扫描是很好的辅助检查方法 ,可以较好地诊断口咽恶性肿瘤及其侵犯范围 ,从而为临床治疗提供帮助     

Hoffa’s fat pad injuries and their relationship with anterior cruciate ligament tears: new observations based on MR imaging in patients and MR imaging and anatomic correlation in cadavers

Purpose To determine the normal anatomic relationships of Hoffa’s fat pad with the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and with the frequency of Hoffa’s fat pad abnormalities in ACL-deficient knees. Design Retrospective clinical study on patients and observational anatomic study on cadavers. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board. Patients MR imaging studies of the knees of 100 patients (21–48 years old) with or without arthroscopically proven tears of the ACL, performed at a single institution, were reviewed by two readers for abnormalities of Hoffa’s fat pad. Ten cadaveric knee specimens were studied with MR imaging and Faxitron radiographs, and by inspection of sections and histology. Results Alterations in Hoffa’s fat pad on MR imaging were present in 64% (32/50) of patients with torn ACLs, and in 24% (12/50) of patients without a tear of the ACL (P < 0.05). Hoffa’s fat pad inserted into the intercondylar notch in 50% (5/10) of cadaveric specimens, four in conjunction with the ligamentum mucosum and in one in an isolated fashion. Histological study demonstrated the composition of the ligamentum mucosum and Hoffa’s fat pad and their course and insertion sites in the intercondylar notch. Conclusion Abnormalities of Hoffa’s fat pad, such as focal and diffuse edema, tears, scars and synovial proliferation, are more common in knees with torn ACLs than in knees with intact ACLs.     

Noninvasive detection of coronary artery wall thickening with age in healthy subjects using high resolution MRI with beat-to-beat respiratory motion correction

Purpose:

To demonstrate coronary artery wall thickening with age in a small healthy cohort using a highly efficient, reliable, and reproducible high‐resolution MR technique.

Materials and Methods:

A 3D cross‐sectional MR vessel wall images (0.7 × 0.7 × 3 mm resolution) with retrospective beat‐to‐beat respiratory motion correction (B2B‐RMC) were obtained in the proximal right coronary artery of 21 healthy subjects (age, 22–62 years) with no known cardiovascular disease. Lumen and outer wall (lumen + vessel wall) areas were measured in one central slice from each subject and average wall thickness and wall area/outer wall area ratio (W/OW) calculated.

Results:

Imaging was successful in 18 (86%) subjects with average respiratory efficiency 99.3 ± 1.7%. Coronary vessel wall thickness and W/OW significantly correlate with subject age, increasing by 0.088 mm and 0.031 per decade respectively (R = 0.53, P = 0.024 and R = 0.48, P = 0.046). No relationship was found between lumen area and vessel wall thickness (P = NS), but outer wall area increased significantly with vessel wall thickness at 19 mm² per mm (P = 0.046). This is consistent with outward vessel wall remodeling.

Conclusion:

Despite the small size of our healthy cohort, using high‐resolution MR imaging and B2B‐RMC, we have demonstrated increasing coronary vessel wall thickness and W/OW with age. The results obtained are consistent with outward vessel wall remodeling. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2011;. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

口咽恶性肿瘤侵犯舌下间隙的CT表现

目的 研究口咽恶性肿瘤侵犯舌下间隙的CT表现，为临床治疗提供更为准确的信息。方法 回顾分析58例经病理证实的口咽恶性肿瘤，对其中14例肿瘤侵犯舌下间隙者的CT表现进行分析。结果 14例口咽恶性肿瘤侵犯舌下间隙者中，经舌根侵犯者7例(咽侧壁鳞癌1例、扁桃体鳞癌1例、舌根癌5例)，经咽旁间隙侵犯者3例(咽侧壁鳞癌2例、扁桃体恶性淋巴瘤1例)，经翼下颌韧带侵犯者2例(咽侧壁鳞癌)，另有2例(咽侧壁鳞癌)分不清侵犯途径。舌下间隙受侵表现为间隙内脂肪间隙消失，间隙内血管与软组织相贴或被软组织包绕。结论 口咽恶性肿瘤可以侵犯与其邻近的舌下间隙，表现为间隙内脂肪消失，舌动脉被包埋或推移，其主要途径有经舌根侵犯、经翼下颌韧带侵犯及经咽旁间隙侵犯。     

鼻咽癌鼻咽后部筋膜间隙受累的影像学分析

目的:分析鼻咽癌鼻咽后部筋膜间隙受累的影像学表现,探讨椎前肌侵犯与颅底枕骨侵犯的相关性.方法:搜集行鼻咽及颈部MRI检查且未经治疗的新发鼻咽癌患者152例,总结其病变周围组织结构侵犯的规律,并结合文献分析鼻咽癌鼻咽后部筋膜间隙受累的相关性.结果:鼻咽癌鼻咽周围组织结构侵犯以椎前肌(62.50％,95/152)最常见,其...     

Sclerosis of the pterygoid process in untreated patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the prevalence of pterygoid process sclerosis in patients with untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This retrospective HIPAA-compliant study was performed after the institutional review board deemed it to be exempt from review and patient informed consent. Contrast material-enhanced computed tomographic (CT) scans of the neck obtained in 31 patients (22 men, nine women; mean age, 42 years; age range, 27-68 years) with untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma and in 31 control subjects (17 men, 14 women; mean age, 43 years; age range, 19-62 years) were evaluated independently by two neuroradiologists. The presence of sclerosis of the pterygoid process-defined as increased attenuation in the medullary cavity and/or thickening of the cortical bone-was assessed. Other findings noted included pterygoid process erosion, enhancing tumor adjacent to the pterygoid process, and CT evidence of parapharyngeal extension of the tumor. The data were evaluated by using generalized estimating equations based on a binary logistic regression model. RESULTS: The prevalence of pterygoid process sclerosis averaged for the two readers was 60% (37 of 62 subjects) among the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma but only 3% (two of 62 subjects) among the control subjects, indicating a highly significantly increased prevalence (P < .001) of this finding in the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The overall prevalences of pterygoid process erosion, parapharyngeal extension of tumor, and enhancing tumor adjacent to the pterygoid process were 27% (17 of 62 subjects), 47% (29 of 62 subjects), and 77% (48 of 62 subjects), respectively. Pterygoid process sclerosis was the sole skull base abnormality in 36% (11 of 31) of the patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. CONCLUSION: Sclerosis of the pterygoid process, which was present in about half of the patients with untreated nasopharyngeal carcinoma, may reflect tumor proximity to or tumor invasion of the pterygoid process.     

膝关节骨性关节炎髌下脂肪垫在中药治疗前后的CT变化研究

目的:通过对比膝骨性关节炎(knee osteoarthritis,KOA)膝关节髌下脂肪垫治疗前后CT图像的变化,探讨中医药治疗KOA的疗效。方法:将130例KOA患者随机分为2组,治疗组65例给予健步通络熏蒸液熏洗,30min/d,10d为1个疗程,共3个疗程;对照组65例每6d关节内注射玻璃酸钠30mg,共5次;2组皆治疗30d。治疗前后均行膝关节CT扫描,观察治疗前后髌下脂肪垫的变化。结果:治疗组经治疗后髌下脂肪垫的前后径、内外径、上下径均有缩小,密度均有降低,优于对照组;治疗组总有效率(83.08%)优于对照组(76.92%),差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:对比膝关节髌下脂肪垫CT图像的变化是评价中医药治疗KOA疗效的有效方法。     

3.0 T高分辨率MR血管壁成像对大动脉炎活动性判断的价值

目的 探讨3.0 T高分辨率MR血管壁成像对大动脉炎活动性判断的价值.方法 26例确诊为大动脉炎的患者(根据Lupi-Herrea分类,为Ⅰ和Ⅲ型,均累及主动脉弓及其主要大分支)接受了颈部及上胸部MR血管壁成像,其中处于病情活动期16例,非活动期10例.分析并比较了2组患者受累动脉管壁的MRI表现特征.采用X~2检验对2组患者的血管壁形态进行统计学分析.结果 所有受累动脉的血管壁均有不同程度的环形增厚.活动期组患者的管壁厚度较非活动期组患者增厚明显[分别为(3.8±0.2)和(2.5±0.8) mm];比较2组增厚的血管壁形态,管壁呈多环征(分别为75/80和18/50)、内壁明显强化(分别为50/80和19/50)、血管外界模糊不清(分别为55/80和18/50)等征象,差异均有统计学意义(X~2值分别为50.39、7.41、13.40,P值均<0.01).结论 大动脉炎高分辨率MR血管壁成像的主要征象是管壁增厚及信号改变,3.0 T MR血管壁成像能精细观察血管壁的形态学变化,对大动脉炎的活动性判断具有重要价值.     

MR imaging with STIR technique and air insufflation for local staging of bladder neoplasms.

Fifty-six patients with bladder carcinoma were studied with MR imaging for the assessment of the local stage, using the inversion recovery pulse sequence with fat suppression (STIR) with air in the bladder. With this technique images of the inner and the outer parts of the bladder wall were obtained, showing high contrast between the latter and the tumor (tumor/muscle contrast 89.9%). Four tumor stages were recognized: superficial neoplasms (Tis, Ta, and T1), partial wall infiltrating neoplasms (T2); total wall infiltrating neoplasms (T3a, T3b), and neoplasms involving other pelvic organs (T4). MR imaging was compared with histopathologic diagnosis obtained at transurethral resection or cystectomy. True-positive diagnosis was obtained in 80.4%; false-positive in 14.3% of cases; false-negative in 5.3%. Despite the relatively high incidence of overstaged neoplasms, STIR technique combined with air in the bladder allowed a good accuracy in local staging.