成人における舌位置と上気道形態との関連性の3次元評価：横断的研究

Three-dimensional evaluation of the association between tongue position and upper airway morphology in adults: A cross-sectional study.

抄録

目的:

本研究の目的は、低位舌位（LTP）と上気道の上咽頭、後口蓋、後舌骨および下咽頭セグメントの容積および寸法との関連を評価することである。

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the association between low tongue position (LTP) and the volume and dimensions of the nasopharyngeal, retropalatal, retroglossal, and hypopharyngeal segments of the upper airway.

方法:

男性91名、女性103名を含む計194名の被験者を、舌の位置によって安静時舌位（RTP）群とLTP群に分けた。LTP群の被験者は、口腔内容積に応じて4つのサブグループ（Q1、Q2、Q3、Q4）に分けられた。3Dスライサーソフトウェアを用いて、各群の体積、最小断面積、平均断面積を測定した。舌の位置と上気道の関連を探るため、RTP群とLTP群の気道の違いを分析した。

METHODS: A total of 194 subjects, including 91 males and 103 females were divided into a resting tongue position (RTP) group and a LTP group according to their tongue position. Subjects in the LTP group were divided into four subgroups (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to the intraoral space volume. The 3D slicer software was used to measure the volume and minimum and average cross-sectional areas of each group. Airway differences between the RTP and LTP groups were analyzed to explore the association between tongue position and the upper airway.

結果:

RTP群とLTP群の気道寸法に有意差は認められなかった。後口蓋節および後舌骨節ともに、体積および平均断面積は、舌位が極端に低い患者で有意に大きかった。回帰分析によると、舌側後方気道の寸法は、口腔内腔の容積と正の相関があり、A点-鼻-B点および口蓋面-下顎面と負の相関があった。一般的に、男性は女性よりも舌後咽頭および下咽頭気道が大きかった。

RESULTS: No significant differences were found in the airway dimensions between the RTP and LTP groups. For both retropalatal and retroglossal segments, the volume and average cross-sectional area were significantly greater in the patients with extremely low tongue position. Regression analysis showed that the retroglossal airway dimensions were positively correlated with the intraoral space volume and negatively correlated with A point-nasion-B point and palatal plane to mandibular plane. Males generally had larger retroglossal and hypopharyngeal airways than females.

結論:

舌の位置は、極端にLTPのサブグループを除いて、上気道の容積や寸法に有意な影響を及ぼさなかった。

CONCLUSIONS: Tongue position did not significantly influence upper airway volume or dimensions, except in the extremely LTP subgroup.