Adolescent ; Child ; Cleft Palate ; pathology ; Eustachian Tube ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nasopharynx ; anatomy & histology ; pathology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the morphology characters of upper airway and its surrounding tissues in different age non-snoring males.

METHODSTotal of 114 non-snoring males, with age-range from 22 to 78 year old, were included in this study. They were divided into 3 groups: 30 in younger group (22-29 years old), 57 in middle-aged group (36-57 years old), and 31 in aged group (70-78 years old). All subjects had magnetic resonance imaging scanning.

RESULTS(1) The nasopharynx in aged group was statistically different from that of the younger group and the middle aged group. The volume of nasopharynx in aged group (7.81 +/- 1.59) cm3 (x +/- s, same herein after) is greater than that in younger group (4.89 +/- 1.20) cm3 and middle aged groups (6.06 +/- 2.07) cm3. (2) The AP diameter/transverse diameter of velopharynx, glossopharynx and laryngopharynx in the aged group tended to be smaller. The average value of AP diameter/transverse diameter of velopharynx in aged group is 0.46 +/- 0.14, while the value is 0.59 +/- 0.14 and 0.57 +/- 0.14 in middle and young groups respectively, compared with that of the aged group, there is statistical difference (P < 0.01). Further more, the min/max section area of velopharynx, glossopharynx, laryngopharynx in aged group are smaller than that of young group and midlife groups. (3) The aged group had the thinnest thickness of posterior and lateral velopharyngeal walls, but the largest volume of soft palate and fat pads among all groups.

CONCLUSIONSIn non-snoring males, there is more fat deposition around the upper airway with aging. While the large nasopharynx and large transverse diameter of upper airway seem to balance the disadvantaged changes and to benefit the their sleep respiration.

Adult ; Aged ; Aging ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nasopharynx ; anatomy & histology ; Pharynx ; anatomy & histology ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVETo investigate the normal ranges of the following parameters: nasal airway resistance (NAR), nasal cavity volume (NCV), nasopharyngeal volume (NPV) and nasal minimal cross sectional area (NMCA), and the effect of postural changes on nasal cavity geometry and nasal airway resistance.

METHODSSeventy three healthy children had acoustic rhinometry (AR) test in different body positions.

RESULTSIn each group, the NAR of the healthy children in the lateral, and supine positions were significantly greater than that in the sitting position, and there were no significant differences among the NAR in lateral, and supine positions; the total NCV, NPV, NMCA of the healthy children in the lateral and supine positions were significantly smaller than that in the sitting position (P < 0.05). The NAR of the 3-6 year-old group was significantly greater than that of the 7-10 and 11-14 year-old groups, significant differences were also found between the last two groups; NAR in 7-10 year-old group were greater than that in the 11-14 year-old group (all P < 0.05). The total NCV,the total NPV and the total NMCA of the 3-6 year-old group were significantly smaller than that of the 7-10 and 11-14 year-old groups, significant differences were also found between the last two groups (all P < 0.05). All three parameters' numerical value in 7-10 year-old group were smaller than that in the 11-14 year-old group.

CONCLUSIONSPostural changes may alter the NAR and the nasal cavity geometry in normal children.

Adolescent ; Airway Resistance ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Cavity ; anatomy & histology ; Nasopharynx ; anatomy & histology ; Posture ; Reference Values ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

Nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is a unique disease that shows clinical behaviour, epidemiology and histopathology that is different from that of other squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is now the preferred imaging modality in the assessment and staging of NPC, especially in relation to its superior soft tissue contrast, ability to demonstrate perineural tumour spread, parapharyngeal space, bone marrow involvement and its ability to show the involvement of adjacent structures, such as the adjacent paranasal sinuses and intracranial extension. An understanding of its patterns of spread and the criteria used in the AJCC TNM staging system is important to relay the relevant information to the referring clinician, so that appropriate treatment planning decisions may be made. In this article, the various features of NPC that are pertinent to staging and treatment planning will be discussed, inclusive of locoregional spread, nodal involvement and metastatic disease.
Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; therapy ; Nasopharynx ; anatomy & histology ; Neoplasm Staging ; Positron-Emission Tomography

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the airway dynamics of the upper airway as depicted on cine MRI in children with tracheotomy tubes during two states of airflow through the upper airway. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sagittal fast gradient echo cine MR images of the supra-glottic airway were obtained with a 1.5T MRI scanner on seven children with tracheotomy tubes. Two sets of images were obtained with either the tubes capped or uncapped. The findings of the cine MRI were retrospectively reviewed. Volume segmentation of the cine images to compare the airway volume change over time (mean volume, standard deviation, normalized range, and coefficient of variance) was performed for the capped and uncapped tubes in both the nasopharynx and hypopharynx (Signed Rank Test). RESULTS: Graphical representation of the airway volume over time demonstrates a qualitative increased fluctuation in patients with the tracheotomy tube capped as compared to uncapped in both the nasopharyngeal and hypopharyngeal regions of interest. In the nasopharynx, the mean airway volume (capped 2.72 mL, uncapped 2.09 mL, p = 0.0313), the airway volume standard deviation (capped 0.42 mL, uncapped 0.20 mL, p = 0.0156), and the airway volume range (capped 2.10 mL, uncapped 1.09 mL, p = 0.0156) were significantly larger in the capped group of patients. In the hypopharynx, the airway volume standard deviation (capped 1.54 mL, uncapped 0.67 mL, p = 0.0156), and the airway volume range (capped 6.44 mL, uncapped 2.93 mL, p = 0.0156) were significantly larger in the capped tubes. The coefficient of variance (capped 0.37, uncapped 0.26, p = 0.0469) and the normalized range (capped 1.52, uncapped 1.09, p = 0.0313) were significantly larger in the capped tubes. CONCLUSION: There is a statistically significant change in airway dynamics in children with tracheotomy tubes when breathing via the airway as compared to breathing via the tracheotomy tube.
Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; Hypopharynx/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Cine/*methods ; Male ; Nasopharynx/anatomy & histology/*physiology ; Retrospective Studies ; Time Factors ; Tracheostomy/*instrumentation ; Work of Breathing/*physiology