Protocol
Protocol
Protocol
Catarina Fonseca1,2, MSc; Francisca Cavadas1, MSc; Patrícia Fonseca1,2, MSc, PhD
1
Faculty of Dental Medicine, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Viseu, Portugal
2
Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Health, Viseu, Portugal
Corresponding Author:
Catarina Fonseca, MSc
Faculty of Dental Medicine
Universidade Católica Portuguesa
Estrada da Circunvalação
Viseu, 3504-505
Portugal
Phone: 351 232419500
Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Background: The upper airways are formed by the nasal cavities, pharynx, and larynx. There are several radiographic methods
that allow evaluation of the craniofacial structure. Upper airway analysis in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) may be
useful in diagnosing some pathologies such as obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). OSAS prevalence has increased
significantly in recent decades, justified by increased obesity and average life expectancy. It can be associated with cardiovascular,
respiratory, and neurovascular diseases, diabetes, and hypertension. In some individuals with OSAS, the upper airway is
compromised and narrowed. Nowadays, CBCT is widely used in dentistry by clinicians. Its use for upper airway assessment
would be an advantage for screening some abnormalities related to an increased risk of pathologies such as OSAS. CBCT helps
to calculate the total volume of the airways and their area in different anatomical planes (sagittal, coronal, and transverse). It also
helps identify regions with the highest anteroposterior and laterolateral constriction of the airways. Despite its undoubted
advantages, airway assessment is not routinely performed in dentistry. There is no protocol that allows comparisons between
studies, which makes it difficult to obtain scientific evidence in this area. Hence, there is an urgent need to standardize the protocol
for upper airway measurement to help clinicians identify at-risk patients.
Objective: Our main aim is to develop a standard protocol for upper airway evaluation in CBCT for OSAS screening in dentistry.
Methods: To measure and evaluate the upper airways, data are obtained using Planmeca ProMax 3D (Planmeca). Patient
orientation is performed in accordance with the manufacturer's indications at the time of image acquisition. The exposure
corresponds to 90 kV, 8 mA, and 13,713 seconds. The software used for upper airway analysis is Romexis (version 5.1.O.R;
Planmeca). The images are exhibited in accordance with the field of view of 20.1×17.4 cm, size of 502×502×436 mm, and voxel
size of 400 μm.
Results: The protocol described and illustrated here allows for automatic calculation of the total volume of the pharyngeal
airspace, its area of greatest narrowing, its location, and the smallest anteroposterior and laterolateral dimensions of the pharynx.
These measurements are carried out automatically by the imaging software whose reliability is proven by the existing literature.
Thus, we could reduce the possible bias of manual measurement, aiming at data collection.
Conclusions: The use of this protocol by dentists will allow for standardization of the measurements and constitutes a valuable
screening tool for OSAS. This protocol may also be suitable for other imaging software. The anatomical points used as reference
are most relevant for standardizing studies in this field.
International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID): RR1-10.2196/41049
KEYWORDS
cone-beam computed tomography; three-dimensional image; 3D image; airway obstructions; sleep medicine specialty; dentistry;
obstructive sleep apnea; protocol
Data Collection
Methods
To measure and evaluate the upper airways, data were obtained
Ethical Considerations using Planmeca ProMax 3D (Planmeca) and in accordance with
This study was integrated in the project number 27 of the Faculty the manufacturer's indications regarding patient orientation at
of Dental Medicine, Catholic University of Portugal, and the time of image acquisition: with the patient standing and with
approved by the Ethics Committee for Health (272022; January his/her head oriented along 3 vertical references—the facial
21, 2022). The authors ensured conditions of anonymity and midline (glabella, subnasal, and mentum), endocant of the eye,
confidentiality that are required for such studies in Portugal. and the parietal bone (Figure 1). The patient’s head should also
be oriented along a horizontal reference—next to the chin. The
exposure corresponds to 90 kV, 8 mA, and 13,713 seconds.
Others imaging devices can be used to obtain the CBCT image.
Figure 1. Correct orientation of the planes according to the inclination of the airways.
Data collected through CBCT is intended to be used to develop and mark the first point at the level of the posterior nasal
a standard method or protocol for upper airway evaluation. spine (Figure 3).
3. Then, continue delimiting the airway following its curvature
To develop this protocol, we consulted the radiographic database
and mark a last point at the level of the middle of the fourth
of the Dental Clinic of the Faculty of Dental Medicine, Catholic
cervical vertebra (Figure 4).
University of Portugal, which has a Planmeca ProMax 3D 4. Select, again, the option “Extract airways,” and in the box
(Planmeca) device. We searched for patients who had complete
that appears with the name “Airways Tool” adjust the
CBCT (maxilla and mandible) images to perform the analysis.
variable that defines the airway limits (a standard
Data Analysis adjustment value should be used for all patients so that it
The software used for upper airway analysis is Romexis (version is possible to establish adjustments; in this case, the
5.1.O.R; Planmeca). The images are exhibited in accordance standardized value was 736). Then, the value of the total
with the field of view of 20.1×17.4 cm, size of 502×502×436 volume (“airway volume”) appears (Figure 5).
5. Place the cursor over the box where the total volume value
mm, and voxel size of 400 μm.
appears. In the same box will appear the value of the
The measurements performed for all the CBCT images were as minimum airway area (“min area”) (Figure 6).
follows: total volume of the pharyngeal airspace, its area and 6. Enlarge the window containing the axial plane and, from
its location, and the smaller dimensions of the anteroposterior the narrowest area of the airway, select in the box on the
and lateral pharynx (these measurements are illustrated in the right with the heading “Annotation” the tool “Measure
Results section). Length” and measure the anteroposterior and laterolateral
The protocol is as follows: dimensions (Figure 7).
7. Record all obtained values.
1. Activate the “Extract airways” tool in the box on the right
with the title “Adjust” (Figure 2). To ensure the reproducibility of the protocol, all researchers
2. Then, enlarge the sagittal cut window in the box that appears performed the measurements, and patients were categorized
on the “Airways Tool” screen to keep the threshold at 500 into those at risk for OSAS (highest anteroposterior and
laterolateral constriction of the airways of <52 mm2 or 52-100 mm2) or those at no risk (>100 mm2).
Figure 2. Selection of the tool "Extract Airways" and marking of the points following the curvature of the airways.
Figure 3. Keeping the threshold at 500 and marking the first point.
Figure 5. New selection of the option "Extract airways," and in the box that appears with the name "Airways Tool" the variable that defines the image
limit is adjusted (standardized value for all patients=736).
Figure 6. Calculation of the value of the total volume and the value of the minimum airway area ("min area").
achieved in the detriment of any decrease in viability and examination. This threshold adapts the difference between the
reliability in the measurement of airways [16]. shades of gray in each voxel of the airway and the rest of the
area. However, in general, Zimmerman et al [19] verified, in a
The CBCT helps measure the total volume of the pharyngeal
systematic review, that most studies measuring the airways have
airspace, its area of greatest narrowing in 3 different anatomical
high intraexaminer reliability. Although in this study, no CBCT
planes (sagittal, coronal, and transversal), its location, and the
image was purposely acquired, currently, it is known that it is
smallest anteroposterior and laterolateral dimensions of the
a comprehensive examination that allows numerous
pharynx [14-16]. Steffy et al [1] related the constriction value
interpretations and simulations from a very low radiation dose.
of the oropharynx with the risk of developing OSAS. An area
Nevertheless, the ALARA (ie, As Low As Reasonably
of <52 mm2 is considered as having a high risk of OSAS; 52-100 Achievable) principle should be respected, reserving the
mm2, intermediate risk; and >100 mm2, low risk [1]. Compared execution of these examinations for cases in which they are
to the other radiographic methods described in the literature, strictly necessary [19,20].
usually available to the dentist, such as profile teleradiography
and CT, the CBCT, as previously mentioned, presents more However, despite these limitations and due to the automatic
advantages. It is possible to acquire the same or better images measurements performed by the system, this protocol in CBCT
with less radiation and less time of exposure. The assessment constitutes a good patient screening tool that will help
protocol for CBCT described herein constitutes a valuable standardize the measurements and ensure that they are
screening tool for OSAS, which allows clinicians to refer the performed in a reproductible, accurate, and simple way while
patient to the hospital for diagnosis confirmation. To establish the comfort of and benefit for the patients increases.
this protocol, CBCT images of 30 patients were used, and in Conclusions
cases where an area of <52 mm2 or 52-100 mm2 was detected, This protocol provides a new standardized tool to identify
the patient was contacted and referred to the hospital for patients at the risk of OSAS by using CBCT and contributes to
diagnostic confirmation tests. the detection of upper airway–related pathologies, such as
Limitations and Strengths OSAS, in patients visiting the dental clinics, using these devices
and software. This protocol will have a significant impact in
The protocol’s main limitations are related to the position at reducing the subdiagnosis of this pathology, contributing to its
which this examination is performed. The patient undergoes treatment and subsequently the prevention of serious
the examination in a standing position and not in a supine comorbidities associated with OSAS. Our protocol may also be
position, which may introduce false negatives here or cause a suitable for other imaging software. The anatomical points used
suspected hypothesis to be discarded. In addition, the step for reference are most relevant for standardizing studies in this
responsible for adjusting the threshold is characteristic of each field and for software evaluation to reduce bias.
Acknowledgments
This work is funded by National Funds through Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, IP (project UIDB/04279/2020).
Conflicts of Interest
None declared.
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Abbreviations
CBCT: cone-beam computed tomography
CT: computed tomography
OSAS: obstructive sleep apnea syndrome
Edited by A Mavragani; submitted 13.07.22; peer-reviewed by M Pang, R Allana; comments to author 22.12.22; revised version
received 20.03.23; accepted 27.03.23; published 05.05.23
Please cite as:
Fonseca C, Cavadas F, Fonseca P
Upper Airway Assessment in Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for Screening of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome: Development
of an Evaluation Protocol in Dentistry
JMIR Res Protoc 2023;12:e41049
URL: https://www.researchprotocols.org/2023/1/e41049
doi: 10.2196/41049
PMID: 37145857
©Catarina Fonseca, Francisca Cavadas, Patrícia Fonseca. Originally published in JMIR Research Protocols
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