Journal
OTOLARYNGOLOGY-HEAD AND NECK SURGERY
Volume 132, Issue 1, Pages 132-135Publisher
SAGE PUBLICATIONS LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.otohns.2004.09.009
Keywords
-
Categories
Ask authors/readers for more resources
OBJECTIVES: Radiofrequency surgery is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of the tongue base in sleep-disordered breathing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in upper airway anatomy induced by radiofrequency surgery with MRI. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: 10 patients with sleep-disordered breathing were treated with radiofrequency surgery at tongue base. MRI measurements were performed before and after surgery with the help of a recently published protocol. RESULTS: The mean total number of energy delivered per patient was 4750 +/- 1641 Joule. Relevant changes could be observed neither for tongue volume or dimension nor for retrolingual space. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in upper airway anatomy could not be demonstrated. The effects of radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base may more likely be a result of changes in upper airway collapsibility. SIGNIFICANCE: Functional effects of surgical interventions in sleep-disordered breathing should be considered in addition to mechanistic concepts alone.
Authors
I am an author on this paper
Click your name to claim this paper and add it to your profile.
Reviews
Recommended
No Data Available