Abstract
Objective: Study the difference between subjective and objective palatine tonsil size measurements in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) syndrome.
Method: Bilateral tonsillectomy was enrolled as a part of the OSA surgery. Subjective tonsil size was valuated using the 0-4 scale. Tonsil size was also objectively measured. The relationship of the subjective and objective tonsil measurements and polysomnography (PSG) was assessed.
Results: Fifty-one OSA patients (46 men, 5 women; mean age 42.1 years; mean apnea/hypopnea index, AHI 47.5/h; mean BMI 26.9) were reviewed. Objective tonsil height, width, thickness, weight and volume were strongly correlated with subjective tonsil size by Spearman correlation. Evaluation of possible outliers with Pearson correlation indicated objective tonsil measurements were the better predictor of preoperative AHI and snoring index than subjective tonsil size.
Conclusion: Both objective and subjective tonsil measurements were not correlated with age, BMI, or other anatomic parameters of the upper airway. Subjective tonsil size measurements correlate with objective tonsil measurements; however, only objective tonsil measurements may help the prediction of objective PSG-measured OSA severity.
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