{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,4]],"date-time":"2026-09-04T21:09:32Z","timestamp":1788556172192,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":23,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,30]],"date-time":"2025-01-30T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738195200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Diagnostics"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Tongue anatomy plays a critical role in airway-related disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Understanding variations in tongue volume across age and gender is essential for refining diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. This study aims to establish baseline data for tongue volume using a simplified geometric approach, addressing the gap in large-scale anatomical assessments, specifically in asymptomatic patients without clinical indications of OSA. Materials and Methods: This retrospective cross-sectional study included 120 asymptomatic patients aged 18\u201375 years, stratified into three age groups (18\u201340, 41\u201360, 61+). Tongue volume was estimated using anterior\u2013posterior length, width, and height measurements from neck CT scans, applying a geometric approximation formula. Statistical analysis, including ANOVA and post hoc tests, was used to evaluate differences across age groups and between genders. Regression analysis examined the influence of age and gender on tongue volume. Results: Tongue volume showed a significant decline with advancing age (p &lt; 0.05), with the 61+ age group exhibiting the smallest volumes. Gender differences were pronounced, with males consistently having larger volumes than females (p &lt; 0.05). Post hoc analyses confirmed significant differences between age groups, and regression analysis indicated that gender was a stronger predictor of tongue volume than age. Conclusions: This study highlights the impact of age and gender on tongue volume, emphasizing the need for demographic-specific approaches in the evaluation and management of airway-related conditions. The simplified measurement method offers a practical solution for large-scale studies, providing baseline data for future research and clinical applications. These findings pave the way for personalized diagnostic thresholds and therapeutic strategies in conditions like OSA.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/diagnostics15030322","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,30]],"date-time":"2025-01-30T05:40:46Z","timestamp":1738215646000},"page":"322","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Age- and Gender-Based Tongue Volume Variations on Asymptomatic Patients: A Simplified Approach to Form Baseline Data for Obstructive Sleep Apnea"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-7793-7887","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bet\u00fcl Tiryaki","family":"Ba\u015ftu\u011f","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Radiology Department, Bilecik \u015eeyh Edebali University Medical Faculty, 11000 Bilecik, T\u00fcrkiye"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,30]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","unstructured":"Slowik, J.M., Sankari, A., and Collen, J.F. (2024, March 21). Obstructive Sleep Apnea, StatPearls [Internet], Available online: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK459252\/."},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"Cumpston, E., and Chen, P. (2023, September 03). Sleep Apnea Syndrome, StatPearls [Internet], Available online: https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK564431\/."},{"key":"ref_3","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"DiCaro, M.V., Lei, K., Yee, B., and Tak, T. (2024). The Effects of Obstructive Sleep Apnea on the Cardiovascular System: A Comprehensive Review. J. Clin. Med., 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13113223"},{"key":"ref_4","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"687","DOI":"10.1016\/S2213-2600(19)30198-5","article-title":"Estimation of the global prevalence and burden of obstructive sleep apnoea: A literature-based analysis","volume":"7","author":"Benjafield","year":"2019","journal-title":"Lancet Respir. Med."},{"key":"ref_5","first-page":"00019","article-title":"Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Obesity: Implications for Public Health","volume":"1","author":"Jehan","year":"2017","journal-title":"Sleep Med. Disord."},{"key":"ref_6","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e13616","DOI":"10.1111\/jsr.13616","article-title":"Obstructive sleep apnea: Transition from pathophysiology to an integrative disease model","volume":"31","author":"McNicholas","year":"2022","journal-title":"J. Sleep Res."},{"key":"ref_7","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Ferreira, M., Oliveira, M., Laranjo, S., and Rocha, I. (2024). Linking Sleep Disorders to Atrial Fibrillation: Pathways, Risks, and Treatment Implications. Biology, 13.","DOI":"10.3390\/biology13100761"},{"key":"ref_8","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"95","DOI":"10.1186\/s43044-024-00524-z","article-title":"Exploring the bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and atrial fibrillation: Implications for risk stratification and management","volume":"76","author":"Ogieuhi","year":"2024","journal-title":"Egypt Heart J."},{"key":"ref_9","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"111087","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jclinane.2023.111087","article-title":"Validity of non-contact methods for diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"87","author":"Khalil","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Clin. Anesth."},{"key":"ref_10","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1639","DOI":"10.1007\/s11325-022-02740-w","article-title":"Reliability of respiratory event detection with continuous positive airway pressure in moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea\u2014Comparison of polysomnography with a device-based analysis","volume":"27","author":"Richter","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sleep Breath."},{"key":"ref_11","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Corrin, B., and Nicholson, A.G. (2011). Occupational, environmental and iatrogenic lung disease. Pathology of the Lungs, Elsevier.","DOI":"10.1016\/B978-0-7020-3369-8.00007-0"},{"key":"ref_12","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"37","DOI":"10.1007\/s11325-024-03195-x","article-title":"Comparative evaluation of the upper pharyngeal airway among children with\/without UCLP and with\/without OSA","volume":"29","author":"Wiwattanadittakul","year":"2024","journal-title":"Sleep Breath."},{"key":"ref_13","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"81","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sleep.2021.08.011","article-title":"Cone beam CT evaluation of skeletal and nasomaxillary complex volume changes after rapid maxillary expansion in OSA children","volume":"86","author":"Pirelli","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sleep Med."},{"key":"ref_14","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"713","DOI":"10.1111\/crj.12405","article-title":"Evaluation of water content around airway in obstructive sleep apnea patients using peripharyngeal mucosal T2 magnetic resonance imaging","volume":"11","author":"Rahmawati","year":"2017","journal-title":"Clin. Respir J."},{"key":"ref_15","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"42","DOI":"10.1016\/j.sleep.2023.02.011","article-title":"Muscle and visceral fat infiltration: A potential mechanism to explain the worsening of obstructive sleep apnea with age","volume":"104","author":"Schorr","year":"2023","journal-title":"Sleep Med."},{"key":"ref_16","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"162","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jcms.2024.11.003","article-title":"Radiographic findings predictive of obstructive sleep apnea in adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis","volume":"53","author":"Kazmouz","year":"2025","journal-title":"J. Cranio-Maxillofac. Surg."},{"key":"ref_17","first-page":"e20220402","article-title":"Tongue size matters: Revisiting the Mallampati classification system in patients with obstructive sleep apnea","volume":"49","author":"Athayde","year":"2023","journal-title":"J. Bras Pneumol."},{"key":"ref_18","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"103169","DOI":"10.1016\/j.dsx.2024.103169","article-title":"Study of the upper airway anatomy using magnetic resonance imaging in Indian obese patients with obstructive sleep apnea\u2014A pilot study","volume":"18","author":"Sinha","year":"2024","journal-title":"Diabetes Metab Syndr."},{"key":"ref_19","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"zsab192","DOI":"10.1093\/sleep\/zsab192","article-title":"Effect of upper airway fat on tongue dilation during inspiration in awake people with obstructive sleep apnea","volume":"44","author":"Olsza","year":"2021","journal-title":"Sleep"},{"key":"ref_20","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"333","DOI":"10.5624\/isd.20220067","article-title":"Volumetric measurement of the tongue and oral cavity with cone-beam computed tomography: A systematic review","volume":"52","author":"Aflah","year":"2022","journal-title":"Imaging Sci Dent."},{"key":"ref_21","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"30","DOI":"10.1007\/s00276-024-03538-z","article-title":"Evaluation of hyoid bone position, shape, area, volume, and tongue volume","volume":"47","author":"Oktay","year":"2024","journal-title":"Surg. Radiol. Anat."},{"key":"ref_22","first-page":"262","article-title":"Differences in the morphological structure of the human tongue","volume":"83","author":"Kulig","year":"2023","journal-title":"Folia Morphol."},{"key":"ref_23","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1639","DOI":"10.5665\/sleep.4072","article-title":"Tongue fat and its relationship to obstructive sleep apnea","volume":"37","author":"Kim","year":"2014","journal-title":"Sleep"}],"container-title":["Diagnostics"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4418\/15\/3\/322\/pdf","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,8]],"date-time":"2025-10-08T10:38:46Z","timestamp":1759919926000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.mdpi.com\/2075-4418\/15\/3\/322"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,30]]},"references-count":23,"journal-issue":{"issue":"3","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2]]}},"alternative-id":["diagnostics15030322"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/diagnostics15030322","relation":{},"ISSN":["2075-4418"],"issn-type":[{"value":"2075-4418","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,1,30]]}}}