[Dynamic imaging assessment on the upper airway in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome]

It is vital to make an individual plan for each patient with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) according to the obstruction sites. The high resolution anatomical information of upper airway and soft tissue can be obtained, especially by MRI and CT scans. Dynamic and state-dependent imaging techniques are beneficial to study stereo changes of anatomy and morphology of upper airway in quiet breathing, sleeping or airway closure. Although dynamic imaging examination has value in diagnosis and treatment of OSAHS, there has no uniform position diagnosis standard. This article reviews the history of dynamic imaging study on OSAHS, the advantages and disadvantages of various imaging technologies and prospects of imaging position diagnosis.