The Association of Tongue Scalloping With Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Related Sleep Pathology

Weiss TM, Atanasov S, Calhoun KH · Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery · 2023 December

DOI 10.1016/j.otohns.2005.07.018

Objective

This study the role of tongue scalloping as a reliable clinical indicator for Obstructive Sleep Apnea, snoring, or the presence of other sleep pathology as evidenced by polysomnography if such an association exists.

Conclusions

In high-risk patients we found tongue scalloping to be predictive of sleep pathology. Tongue scalloping was also associated with pathologic polysomnography data and abnormal Mallampati grades. We feel the finding of tongue scalloping is a useful clinical indicator of sleep pathology and that its presence should prompt the physician to inquire about snoring history.

Critical Appraisal

Published research can offer valuable insights, but a paper’s conclusions may go beyond what its results support. Critical appraisal examines the methods, findings and limitations to clarify what can reasonably be concluded—and what remains uncertain.

This article has not yet been critically appraised by the Research Hub.

Learn more about Critical Appraisal

Insights

Tongue scalloping can be a useful clinical indicator of sleep disorders, including snoring history and obstructive sleep apnea.

In the study, sixty-one patients from an otolaryngology clinic were evaluated with historical and physical examinations for tongue scalloping, snoring, and other symptoms linked to sleep-disordered breathing and obstructive sleep apnea. The evaluation of tongue scalloping was graded on a scale from 0 to 3. Additionally, twenty-five patients underwent overnight polysomnography to definitively diagnose sleep pathology. In the discussions of results, it was found that 44% of patients displayed some degree of tongue scalloping, and this symptom was primarily found in males. Among patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea or having a snoring history, the presence of any tongue scalloping was detected. It also showed a positive correlation with increasing Mallampati and modified Mallampati airway classifications. Besides, the presence of tongue scalloping was indicative of abnormal sleep efficiency, increased apnea-hypopnea index, and nocturnal desaturation greater than 4% below the normal baseline, suggesting it could serve as a predictor of sleep pathology.