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Volumetric tissue reduction in radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base
Boris A Stuck1, Julian Köpke, Karl Hörmann
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim, Germany. boris.stuck@hno.ma.uni-heidelberg.de
Objectives:
Radiofrequency surgery is a minimally invasive technique for the treatment of the tongue base in sleep-disordered breathing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the changes in upper airway anatomy induced by radiofrequency surgery with MRI.
Study Design And Setting:
10 patients with sleep-disordered breathing were treated with radiofrequency surgery at tongue base. MRI measurements were performed before and after surgery with the help of a recently published protocol.
Results:
The mean total number of energy delivered per patient was 4750 +/- 1641 Joule. Relevant changes could be observed neither for tongue volume or dimension nor for retrolingual space.
Conclusions:
Changes in upper airway anatomy could not be demonstrated. The effects of radiofrequency surgery of the tongue base may more likely be a result of changes in upper airway collapsibility.
Significance:
Functional effects of surgical interventions in sleep-disordered breathing should be considered in addition to mechanistic concepts alone.
