ArticlePloS one2015
Tongue Volume Influences Lowest Oxygen Saturation but Not Apnea-Hypopnea Index in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 23 papers.
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Who cites it
23 citing papers in PubMed, 48 citations in OpenAlex.
- Predictors of success in combination of tongue base resection and lateral pharyngoplasty for obstructive sleep apnea.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2017Trial
- Correlation of 2D Linear and 3D Volumetric Measurement Techniques for Subchondral Bone Sclerosis in the Equine Distal Limb Using Standing Computed Tomography.Veterinary radiology & ultrasound : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Radiology and the International Veterinary Radiology Association · 2026Article
- The hypoxic burden algorithm: an integrated index for assessing intermittent hypoxia in pediatric obstructive sleep apnea-a retrospective cohort study.Translational pediatrics · 2026Article
- Changes in Upper Airway Anatomy and Apnea-Hypopnea Index in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Pilot Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Article
- Investigating anatomical determinants of OSA in children with UCLP: insights into tongue, airway, and hyoid bone.Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung · 2026Article
- Assessing the application potential of different species as obstructive sleep apnea models: a comparative analysis based on cranial CT anatomy.European archives of oto-rhino-laryngology : official journal of the European Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (EUFOS) : affiliated with the German Society for Oto-Rhino-Laryngology - Head and Neck Surgery · 2025Article
- Point-of-Care Tongue Ultrasound for Perioperative Risk Stratification in Metabolic Bariatric Surgery.Obesity surgery · 2025Observational
- The Obstructive Sleep Apnea Physical Exam: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Laryngoscope investigative otolaryngology · 2025Review
- Comparison of the modified Mallampati classification score versus the best visible Mallampati score in the prediction of difficult tracheal intubation: a single-centre prospective observational study.Canadian journal of anaesthesia = Journal canadien d'anesthesie · 2024Observational
- The effect of tongue reduction for preventing adverse effects in patients undergoing class III orthognathic surgery: a three-dimensional comparative analysis.Clinical oral investigations · 2024Article
- Predicting OSA Using Radiographs of the Airway Anatomy.Nature and science of sleep · 2024Article
- Ultrasonography of the neck in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung · 2023Article
- Tongue size matters: revisiting the Mallampati classification system in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.Jornal brasileiro de pneumologia : publicacao oficial da Sociedade Brasileira de Pneumologia e Tisilogia · 2023Article
- Obstructive sleep apnea and anatomical structures of the nasomaxillary complex in adolescents.PloS one · 2022Article
- Evaluation of oral air space volume in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using clinical and postmortem CT imaging.Oral radiology · 2022Article
- Patients with epiglottic collapse showed less severe obstructive sleep apnea and good response to treatment other than continuous positive airway pressure: a case-control study of 224 patients.Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2021Article
- Evaluation of volume change in oral cavity proper before and after mandibular advancement.The Angle orthodontist · 2021Article
- Predictors of chronic kidney disease in obstructive sleep apnea patients.Multidisciplinary respiratory medicine · 2020Article
- A Global Comparison of Anatomic Risk Factors and Their Relationship to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity in Clinical Samples.Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2019Article
- Trans-Oral Robotic Tongue Reduction for OSA: Does Lingual Anatomy Influence the Surgical Outcome?Journal of clinical sleep medicine : JCSM : official publication of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine · 2018Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 3 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesThe aim of this study was to identify correlations between sleep apnea severity and tongue volume or posterior airway space measured via three-dimensional reconstruction of volumetric computerized tomography (CT) images in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) for use in predicting OSA severity and in surgical treatment. We also assessed associations between tongue volume and Mallampati score.
methodsSnoring/OSA male patients (n = 64) who underwent polysomnography, cephalometry, and CT scans were enrolled in this retrospective study. OSA was diagnosed when the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was greater than 5 (mild 5-14; moderate 15-29; severe>30). The patients were also categorized into the normal-mild group (n = 22) and the moderate-severe group (n = 42). Using volumetric CT images with the three-dimensional reconstruction technique, the volume of the tongue, posterior airway space volume, and intra-mandibular space were measured. The volumes, polysomnographic parameters, and physical examination findings were compared, and independent factors that are related to OSA were analysed.
resultsNo associations between tongue volume or posterior airway space and the AHI were observed. However, multivariate linear analyses showed that tongue volume had significantly negative association with lowest O2 saturation (r = 0.365, p = 0.027). High BMI was related to an increase in tongue volume. Modified Mallampati scores showed borderline significant positive correlations with absolute tongue volume (r = 0.251, p = 0.046) and standardized tongue volume (absolute tongue volume / intramandibular area; r = 0.266, p = 0.034). Between the normal-mild and moderate-severe groups, absolute tongue volumes were not different, although the standardized tongue volume in the moderate-severe group was significantly higher.
conclusionAbsolute tongue volume showed stronger associations with lowest O2 saturation during sleep than with the severity of AHI. We also found that high BMI was a relevant factor for an increase in absolute tongue volume and modified Mallampati grading was a useful physical examination to predict tongue size.
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