**8. Diagnostic methods of OSAS**

OSAS is a life-threatening syndrome which affects cardiovascular, pulmonary, psychological, and neurological systems. Because of this reason, the diagnosis and treatment plan of this syndrome should be done by a multidisciplinary team. The team should consist of medical practitioners, sleep specialists, psychiatrists, and dentists. The diagnosis and treatment plan should be done after a comprehensive medical and dental history and examination [10, 12, 13, 22].

oxygen desaturation. PSG can be done either at a sleep center or in the patients at home. But home-based PSG records do not have the same reliability as sleep center-based PSG records.

Contemporary Treatment Approaches to Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.81911

181

Upper airway imaging should be performed in OSAS patients in order to examine the anatomy of the pharynx, surrounding the craniofacial and soft tissue structures. Lateral cephalometry, computerized tomography (CT), and MR imaging (MRI) are the most commonly

It is the most commonly used radiological inspection method of OSAS. It allows to investigate the sagittal and vertical positions of the maxilla and mandible according to the cranial base, maxillomandibular relationships, the sagittal and vertical position of hyoid bone, soft palate anatomy, and head posture. It is cheap and noninvasive but documentation can be done in two dimensions. Cephalometric analysis alone is insufficient to diagnose OSAS. But some cephalometric parameters can accept a signal for OSAS risk. Increased mandibular plane angle, steep occlusal plane, over-erupted posterior dentition, large gonial angle, anterior open bite, adipose tissue placed in the submental and parapharyngeal region, larger and wider soft palate, and increased linear distance from the mandibular plane to the hyoid bone (a distance bigger than

The high-resolution and three-dimensional evaluation of the skeletal system and soft tissues in maxillofacial complex can be performed by computed tomography. CT imaging is done in supine position and can give us the opportunity of recording the changes in upper airway crosssectional area in different phases of respiration and predicting the collapse area in OSAS patients. The disadvantages of this technique are as follows: being expensive, high radiation level, and the

Magnetic resonance imaging allows 3D imaging and accurate measurement of the upper airway, soft tissues, and skeletal structures. MRI is performed in supine position, it allows high-resolution visualization of soft tissues and fat deposits around pharyngeal airway, and the volume and area of the airway can be measured accurately. With ultrafast mode dynamic observation can be done. But it is expensive and cannot be used in patients who have claus-

OSAS is a life-threatening disease. Because of this reason, early, accurate, and individualized treatment should be performed by a multidisciplinary team. The aim of OSAS treatment is

low-resolution images of fat tissues around upper airway according to MR imaging [14].

**8.4. Radiological inspection**

*8.4.1. Lateral cephalometry*

15.4 mm) create OSA risk [10, 13].

*8.4.2. Computed tomography (CT)*

*8.4.3. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)*

trophobia, ferromagnetic clips, or pacemaker [15].

**9. Treatment of adult obstructive sleep apnea syndrome**

used radiological inspection methods of OSAS.

The diagnostic methods of OSAS can be done in steps:


#### **8.1. Clinical examination**


#### **8.2. Endoscopic examination**

Endoscopic examination is frequently used for the inspection of upper airway from the nose to the glottis. The dynamic upper airway changes and the level of collapse in upper airway can be seen in this method. Especially before surgical treatments, the level and severity of collapse can be seen, and the operation can be planned according to these data.
