Radiological evaluation of the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and some volumetric and structural changes in the pineal and pituitary glands

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a disease characterized by episodes of apnea and hypopnea that develop as a result of recurrent upper airway obstruction during sleep. These episodes lead to oxygen desaturation and hypercapnia, which in turn result in various systemic effects. This study aimed to evaluate the volumetric and structural characteristics of the pineal and pituitary glands in patients using radiological imaging methods to investigate the effects of OSAS on central neuroendocrine structures. Brain magnetic resonance images (MRI) of 89 OSAS patients and a control group of 94 individuals with a similar age and gender distribution were retrospectively reviewed. Gland volumes were measured using Horos imaging software. Additionally, brain computed tomography (CT) images of 86 OSAS patients were obtained for the assessment of pineal calcification, and calcifications were graded and analyzed. The obtained data were compared statistically. The analyses revealed significant decreases in both pineal and pituitary gland volumes in the OSAS group compared to the control group (p<0,05). Furthermore, gland volumes differed significantly among the control group and the OSAS subgroups categorized according to AHI values as mild, moderate, and severe. On the other hand, pineal calcification was assessed across OSAS subgroups, and no correlation was observed between the level of pineal calcification and OSAS severity (p=0,142). In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest that OSAS can affect the central neuroendocrine organs such as the pineal and pituitary glands, leading to volumetric reductions in these glands, and that these reductions may be associated with disease severity.