RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acoustic pharyngometry is a relatively new noninvasive method that quantifies the geometrically complex oropharyngeal dimensions. We aimed this study to investigate the predictability and usefulness of acoustic pharyngometry in the diagnosis of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We conducted a prospective clinical trial in consecutive 49 patients with snoring or sleep apnea. Polysomnography was used to determine whether the patient had OSA. All subjects were examined by acoustic pharyngometry in sitting, supine, and both lateral recumbent positions while awake with tidal breathing. Morphometric oral cavity measurements were obtained and the Kushida index was calculated for each patient. RESULTS: Upper-airway cross-sectional areas measured by acoustic pharyngometry were significantly smaller in patients with OSA than in subjects without OSA. Especially, the oropharyngeal junction area (OPJ) in supine position was the most prominent parameter to discriminate between them. CONCLUSION: Acoustic pharyngometry can be a clinically useful tool for localizing the upper-airway obstruction and for predicting obstructive sleep apnea.