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The effect of posture on upper airway dimensions was assessed for two reasons. First, some patients with untreated sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (SAHS) report they sleep better sitting upright. Second, to allow comparison of the differing techniques used to determine the site of maximal airway narrowing in awake patients with SAHS, as some are carried out in the erect and others in the supine posture. Lateral cephalometry was therefore carried out in 33 nonsnoring normal subjects and in 29 patients with obstructive SAHS (mean apneas plus hypopneas, 46 per hour; range, 17 to 103). In both normal subjects and patients, uvular width was increased (p less than 0.05) in the supine posture, and this was associated with significant narrowing of the retropalatal airway in the patients with SAHS (erect, 5.0 +/- SD 2.6 mm; supine, 3.6 +/- 2.8 mm; p less than 0.01). In both normal subjects and patients, the retroglossal hypopharynx widened (p less than 0.05) in the supine posture (e.g., in patients with SAHS, posterior airway space was: erect, 11.5 +/- 4.5 mm; supine, 13.4 +/- 4.8 mm; p = 0.003). In the supine posture there was anterior movement of the hyoid and neck flexion in both groups. However, a study of the effect of neck flexion in the erect posture showed that neck flexion produced no changes in airway caliber. Thus, posture is an important determinant of upper airway dimensions.

A prospective analysis of the incidence of paranasal sinus opacification in 100 patients referred for cranial computerized tomography (CT) for non-sinus related problems is described. The findings were correlated with symptomatic assessment. Twenty-seven per cent of asymptomatic patients had sinus opacification. The study illustrates the importance of careful clinical correlation when interpreting CT scans of the paranasal sinuses.

SummaryLaryngeal tuberculosis is now an uncommon disease in the United Kingdom. A series of ten cases is reported. In contrast to the pre-chemotherapy era, when the disease was associated with advanced cavitated pulmonary tuberculosis and was highly infectious, it now presents in a manner similar to laryngeal carcinoma except that painful dysphagia is a prominent symptom. All such patients should have a chest X-ray carried out as part of their initial investigation. Sputum is almost always positive for tubercle bacilli on direct films. Direct laryngoscopy and biopsy are necessary if a carcinoma is suspected.The change of pattern of the disease may be due to the fact that the larynx now usually becomes involved by haematogenous spread rather than by direct spread along the airways. Laryngeal tuberculosis is now no more infectious than pulmonary tuberculosis, and responds well to antituberculous chemotherapy. Symptoms resolve completely within three weeks if corticosteroids are given in combination.

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