Effect of Head and Tongue Posture on the Pharyngeal Airway Dimensions and Morphology in Three-Dimensional Imaging: a Systematic Review

Sirwan Fernandez Gurani, Gabriele Di Carlo, Paolo M Cattaneo, Jens Jørgen Thorn, Else Marie Pinholt

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

257 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Natural head position is recommended to be optimal at cone-beam computed tomography acquisition. For standardization purposes in control of treatment outcome, it is clinically relevant to discuss, if a change of posture from natural head position may have an effect on the pharyngeal airway dimensions and morphology, during computed tomography, cone-beam computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging acquisition. This was the aim of the present literature review study for purposes of valid evidence, which was hypothesized, to be present.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: This systematic literature review has been registered in PROSPERO database with following number: CRD42015024567. A systematic literature search performed in PubMed, Embase and Cochrane was carried out in order to evaluate if the effect of human head or tongue posture has an effect on upper airway dimensions and morphology in CT, CBCT or MRI. Study quality assessment was performed. Predictor variable was head and tongue posture. Endpoints were numerical values of upper airway dimensions and morphology.

RESULTS: Overall 1344 articles (Embase 1063, PubMed 269, and Cochrane 12) resulted in four included publications. Quality assessments revealed poor quality and low-level evidence by 46 - 67% of the maximum achievable score. Heterogeneous methodology made a meta-analysis impossible, consequently a narrative synthesis was performed.

CONCLUSIONS: Limited, poor quality and low evidence level literature is available on the effect of head posture on upper airway dimensions and morphology in three-dimensional imaging. Valid evidence requires a standardized method of head and tongue posture during image acquisition in future studies.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1
JournalJournal of Oral And Maxillofacial Research
Volume7
Issue number1
Number of pages13
ISSN2029-283X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 31. Mar 2016

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Effect of Head and Tongue Posture on the Pharyngeal Airway Dimensions and Morphology in Three-Dimensional Imaging: a Systematic Review'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this