polysomnography
Pronunciation: pol-ee-som-NOG-ruh-fee
Also written as: PSG — polysomnography
A multi-channel overnight sleep study recording physiological parameters including airflow, oxygen saturation, respiratory effort, EEG, and limb movements, used to diagnose sleep-disordered breathing in children.
Full Definition
Polysomnography (PSG) is the gold-standard diagnostic test for pediatric obstructive sleep apnea and other sleep-disordered breathing conditions. It simultaneously records electroencephalography (EEG), electrooculography (EOG), electromyography (EMG), pulse oximetry, end-tidal CO2 or transcutaneous CO2, nasal airflow, chest and abdominal wall movement, and body position. Reports are scored by trained technologists and interpreted by physicians using age-specific normative criteria. Editors working on PSG reports or related manuscripts must handle a dense array of abbreviations correctly and should preserve numeric precision (e.g., AHI expressed to one decimal place). 'Polysomnography' should not be hyphenated. The abbreviated form PSG should be introduced at first use; 'sleep study' is an acceptable informal equivalent in patient-facing documents.
Usage
Usage note: Do not hyphenate. Abbreviate PSG after first use. Distinguish from home sleep apnea testing (HSAT), which captures fewer channels and is not standard for pediatric diagnosis.
In Context
- "The polysomnography report documented a minimum oxygen saturation of 82% during REM sleep, with 12 obstructive events per hour." — Sleep laboratory report editing
- "The author incorrectly used 'polysomnograph' (the device) when they meant 'polysomnography' (the test); the editor corrected all instances." — Journal manuscript copy-editing