Comparison of Intracranial and Extracranial Carotid Artery Calcifications between Obstructive Sleep Apnea Patients and Healthy Individuals: A Combined Cone-Beam Computed Tomography and Polysomnographic Study

Table 1

Advantages and disadvantages of imaging techniques used in the diagnosis of OSA.

	CBCT	MDCT	MRI	US
Advantages	Short scanning time	Short scanning time	Higher soft tissue resolution than MDCT	Radiation-free
	Lower dose than MDCT	Soft tissue assessment possible	3D evaluation of structures with no radiation exposure	Sensitive for detecting dynamic changes in the pharyngeal airspace
	Multiplanar views and 3D reconstruction	Multiplanar views and 3D reconstruction	Dynamic imaging possible
	Providing accurate cross-sectional information	Providing accurate cross-sectional information
	Ability to scan the entire airway, providing accurate measurement of the airway	Ability to scan the entire airway, providing accurate measurement of the airway
Disadvantages	Amalgam and metallic restorations causing artifacts	Amalgam and metallic restorations causing artifacts	Artifacts generated by metallic hardware	Bone blocks US waves
	Higher doses than two-dimensional imaging	High dose	Longer to acquire than MDCT	The quality of results and use of equipment depending on the skills of the operator
	Inability to accurately represent the internal structure of soft tissues	Inability to image the entire pharyngeal airway in a single plane	Patient discomfort	Less spatial resolution compared to MDCT and MRI scan