Abstract #4286

Measuring the Change in Mechanical Properties of Upper Airway Soft Tissues in Obstructive Sleep Apnea using Magnetic Resonance Elastography

Elizabeth Nye¹, Shaokoon Cheng¹, Simon Gandevia², David McKenzie³, Ralph Sinkus⁴, Lynne Bilston²

¹Neuroscience Research Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia; ²Neuroscience Research Australia, Australia; ³University of New South Wales, Australia; ⁴Centre de Recherches Biomdicales Bichat-Beaujon, France

The pathophysiological mechanisms of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) are unclear and the change in mechanical properties of soft tissues and tongue muscles is likely to play an important role in the disorder. In this study, magnetic resonance elastography is used to probe the mechanical properties of the tongue and soft palate in five OSA patients and healthy normal subjects. Results shows that while the shear moduli of the tongue is significantly softer in the OSA patients (p < 0.05), the mechanical properties of the soft palate between the 2 subject groups are not significantly different (p > 0.05).