OBJECTIVES: Acoustic rhinometry is a rapid, reliable and non-invasive technique for the evaluation of conditions associated with impaired nasal patency. This study aimed to examine the intersession repeatability of acoustic rhinometry measurements of unilateral and combined nasal parameters in a group of healthy volunteers. METHODS: Twenty healthy volunteers were studied. In each subject, acoustic rhinometry measurements were performed on five consecutive days, with multiple recordings. Five clinically relevant parameters were measured in each session and the intersession repeatability of these measurements was expressed in terms of mean coefficient of variation, intraclass correlation coefficient and inter-item correlations. RESULTS: Intraclass correlation coefficients showed a high, and greater repeatability over time for all the combined (mean) values compared to the unilateral values. All intraclass correlations for combined values were > or =0.80 confirming almost perfect agreement. All intraclass correlations and inter-item correlations were associated with P<0.001. The mean coefficient of variation was low (<10%) for all but the proximal minimum cross sectional area (MCA1) measurements. CONCLUSION: Acoustic rhinometry provides highly repeatable measurements of nasal patency, which is best for combined (mean) nasal parameters. This property makes it suitable for use in the diagnosis and follow-up of conditions associated with nasal obstruction, either structural or functional.
Acoustics ; Nasal Obstruction ; Reproducibility of Results ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

Several attempts have been made to correlate nasal obstruction and acoustic rhinometric parameters, so far failed to find any significant correlation. We evaluated the correlation between the sense of nasal obstruction and parameters measured with acoustic rhinometry, and searched any secondary variables calculated from primary parameters, to explain the sense of nasal obstruction objectively on 114 patients (72 men and 42 women) with nasal obstruction. The sense of nasal obstruction was measured with visual analogue scale. Nasal volume, minimal cross-sectional area, and equivalent resistance were measured by acoustic rhinometry. As secondary variables, we introduced the concept of decongestion rate which representing the amount of change in the parameters after application of nasal decongestant. Weak correlations were found between the sense of nasal obstruction and total minimal cross-sectional area. Significant correlations were found between the sense of nasal obstruction and decongestion rate of total nasal volume, and particularly in the wider cavity. Stronger correlations than in total population were found in male patients. The decongestion rate may have potential implication in explaining the sense of nasal obstruction.
Acoustics* ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Obstruction* ; Rhinometry, Acoustic*

Nasal provocation test (NPT) is a procedure used to evaluate the hyper-responsiveness of nasal mucosa after exposure to a provocative allergen. We aimed to identify the clinical indication and contra-indication for the use of NPT, and to introduce the actual NPT laboratory protocol in our clinical practice. We also provide clinical information which could be useful in conducting NPT. Finally, we discuss the current limitations of NPT and present a plan to overcome these difficulties.
Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Provocation Tests* ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Acoustic rhinometry (AR) measures nasal cavity geometry by analyzing reflected acoustic impulses. The authors aimed to find out whether AR could reflect the volume change developed from conchotomy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To establish the test-retest reliability of the AR, 20 normal nasal cavities were tested with AR before conducting main study. The volumes of the 31 conchotomy specimens were measured with water displacement method (WDM). The nasal volume changes in accordance with conchotomy operations were measured with AR, and the paired values were compared. RESULTS: AR revealed highly consistent results as there was statistically significant correlation between test and retest values (r=0.98, p<0.0001). The volume of the conchotomy specimens measured with WDM was 1.40+/-0.63 cm3 (mean+/-SD) and the volume change measured with AR was 1.49+/-1.48 cm3 (mean+/-SD). There was statistically significant correlation between the two values (r=0.55, p<0.01), though they were not so consistent with each other. CONCLUSION: The nasal volume change after conchotomy measured with AR correlates with the conchotomy specimen volume with statistical significance, though the correlation between them does not always show consistency.
Acoustics* ; Nasal Cavity* ; Rhinometry, Acoustic* ; Water

Functional endoscopic sinus surgery(FESS) is now the surgical procedure of choice for treating chronic sinusitis in patients of all ages. We performed the olfactory threshold test after FESS and assessed its clinical value. From Feburary 1996 through July 1966, fifty bilateral sinusitis patients had received FESS and butanol threshold test and odor identification test were performed pre-operatively, at post-operative 1 month, and at post-operative 2 months. We analyzed preoperative computed tomography to determine the grade of sinusitis and status of olfactory fissure. The status of olfactory fissure significantly influenced the preoperative olfactory threshold score(p<0.001). At post-operative 2 months, the subjective symptoms of the patients were improved in 96% of patients and objective olfactory threshold were improve in 68% of patients. There was no correlation between subjective symptoms and olfactory threshold improvement. Our study suggests that the olfactory threshold test may predict the result of FESS, however for more accurate and reliable assessment, we should consider other objective methods like anterior rhinomanometry, acoustic rhinometry, ciliary beat frequency test, and post-operative endoscopic findings.
Humans ; Odors ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Sinusitis ; Smell

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: There are many operative methods for allergic rhinitis such as partial or total turbinectomy, submucosal resection. Laser- assisted conchotomy (LACON) and coblation-assisted partial turbinoplasty (CAPT) are recently being commonly performed for minimal invasive surgery. The aim of this study is to compare the subjective and objective results in the groups of patients with allergic rhinitis who underwent LACON or CAPT after long term follow up. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2006 to January 2007, 64 patients with allergic rhinitis refractory to medical therapy who underwent LACON or CAPT were enrolled in this study. 28 patients had LACON therapy and 36 patients underwent CAPT randomly. The symptom of allergy, duration of crust formation, and nasal patency in acoustic rhinometry were analyzed in months 3, 6, 9, 12 after surgery. RESULTS: With the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), the patients who received LACON all reported significant differences in allergic symptoms. However, patients who received CAPT reported significant differences only in nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea. There were no significant differences in both groups in regard to nasal patency change (nasal volume, cm3) and duration of crust formation. CONCLUSION: As LACON is effective on all symptoms and CAPT is effective only on nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea, the procedures can be performed respectively, depending on the symptoms of patients.
Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Nasal Obstruction ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To measure nasal cavity function as an airway, rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry are currently being used in clinical settings. However, these methods are not helpful for continuously measuring the aerodynamic status of both nasal cavities simultaneously. Therefore, a new instrument to evaluate the nasal flow is required. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To measure the airflow of bilateral nasal cavity simultaneously, two thermocouples are held in the headset, with the tips of thermocouples positioned below nostrils. The thermocouples are connected to the analog-digital converter and the digitized data is transferred to a notebook computer, in which a graphical programming language software is installed. Eighteen adults were recruited for this study who had no structural abnormality in their nasal cavities. For every subject, measurements from acoustic rhinometry, the thermocouple device, and rhinomanometry were taken in succession. The data from the thermocouple device was compared with those taken from the acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry. RESULTS: A negative correlation was noted between the minimum cross-sectional area by acoustic rhinometry and the inspiratory slope by thermocouple. No correlation was noted between the results for rhinomanometry and the thermocouple device. CONCLUSION: The thermocouple device has some advantages over other devices for its non-invasive, continuous, and real-time measurements and its ability to measure bilateral nasal cavity simultaneously.
Adult ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Programming Languages ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Measurement of the peak nasal inspiratory flow rate (PNIFR) is a useful technique for obtaining a quick measure of nasal obstruction and changes in PNIFR, reflecting changes in symptoms. The aim of the present study was to correlate changes in nasal obstruction symptoms with changes in several parameters of acoustic rhinometry (AR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow metry (PNIFM) before and after decongestion and to examine whether changes in PNIFR correlate with changes in nasal cross-sectional areas and volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of the current study were 30 patients with nasal obstruction symptoms and 20 normal subjects. Subjective nasal patency was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). We measured PNIFR and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA), cross-sectional area at distances of 3.3 (CA3.3), 4.0 (CA4.0), and 6.4 (CA6.4) cm from the nostril and volume from the nostril 6.4 cm (V6.4) towards the choanae, in each nasal cavity before and after decongestion. RESULTS: The VAS had no significant correlation with PNIFR, each cross-sectional area and volume in bilateral nasal cavities before decongestion. There was a significant correlation between the changes in VAS and PNIFR and MCA before and after decongestion. There was a significant correlation between changes in PNIFR and MCA and CA3.3 in one side and both sides of nasal cavity before and after decongestion. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PNIFM and AR may have no sensitive diagnostic values in estimating the severity of nasal obstruction symptoms in the nondecongested state of the bilateral nasal cavities, but PNIFM and AR can be recommended especially in provocation studies because PNIFR and MCA reflect changes in subjective symptoms by mucosal changes.
Acoustics* ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction* ; Nasopharynx ; Rhinometry, Acoustic*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Measurement of the peak nasal inspiratory flow rate (PNIFR) is a useful technique for obtaining a quick measure of nasal obstruction and changes in PNIFR, reflecting changes in symptoms. The aim of the present study was to correlate changes in nasal obstruction symptoms with changes in several parameters of acoustic rhinometry (AR) and peak nasal inspiratory flow metry (PNIFM) before and after decongestion and to examine whether changes in PNIFR correlate with changes in nasal cross-sectional areas and volume. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects of the current study were 30 patients with nasal obstruction symptoms and 20 normal subjects. Subjective nasal patency was assessed by visual analogue scale (VAS). We measured PNIFR and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA), cross-sectional area at distances of 3.3 (CA3.3), 4.0 (CA4.0), and 6.4 (CA6.4) cm from the nostril and volume from the nostril 6.4 cm (V6.4) towards the choanae, in each nasal cavity before and after decongestion. RESULTS: The VAS had no significant correlation with PNIFR, each cross-sectional area and volume in bilateral nasal cavities before decongestion. There was a significant correlation between the changes in VAS and PNIFR and MCA before and after decongestion. There was a significant correlation between changes in PNIFR and MCA and CA3.3 in one side and both sides of nasal cavity before and after decongestion. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PNIFM and AR may have no sensitive diagnostic values in estimating the severity of nasal obstruction symptoms in the nondecongested state of the bilateral nasal cavities, but PNIFM and AR can be recommended especially in provocation studies because PNIFR and MCA reflect changes in subjective symptoms by mucosal changes.
Acoustics* ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Obstruction* ; Nasopharynx ; Rhinometry, Acoustic*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Subjects with nasal septal deviation (NSD) are commonly confronted with mucosal hypertrophy of the concave side of nasal cavity. Previous studies have characterized response to exercise in healthy subjects and in subjects with rhinitis, but such studies are not yet done in subjects with NSD. In this research, by using acoustic rhinometry, we aimed to investigate the nasal response to exercise in subjects with nasal septal deviation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Acoustic rhinometric measurements of the cross sectional areas (CSA) at 3.3, 4.0, and 6.4 cm from the nostril, and nasal volume were taken in 10 subjects with NSD. The consecutive acoustic rhinometric measurements were undertaken just before and immediately after, and 10, 20, and 30 minutes after treadmill exercise. RESULTS: In nasal cavities showing compensatory hypertrophy, nasal volume and CSA at 3.3 cm and 6.4 cm from the nostril showed significant increase in immediate post- exercises and 10-minute post-exercise measurements when compared with baseline measurements. At 4.0 cm from the nostril, the increase in CSA was significant until the 20-minute post-exercise measurement in the hypertrophied side. However, in contralateral nasal cavities, exercise did not result in significant changes when compared with the base line measurement, except for the immediate post-exercise measurement at the point of 4 cm from the nostril. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated that the mucosal response to exercise was pronounced in concave nasal cavities in subjects with NSD. By contrast, in the convex nasal cavities, the mucosal response was very weak in terms of nasal patency.
Acoustics ; Exercise ; Hypertrophy ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Septum ; Rhinitis ; Rhinometry, Acoustic