BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to compare the nasalance between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) patients and normal controls and to determine the correlation of nasalance with nasal volume, nasal resistance, CT score, and polyp score in CRS patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 150 CRS patients and 154 normal adults. All subjects underwent acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry. Nasalance scores were measured with the nasometer. All CRS patients were graded according to the Lund-Mackay CT staging system and the degree of nasal polyp. RESULTS: Nasal volume was decreased and nasal resistance was increased in CRS patients compared with normal controls. However, the nasalance scores for oro-nasal and nasal passages were significantly higher in CRS patients compared with normal controls. In CRS patients, the nasalance score for the nasal passage showed positive correlation with nasal volume and negative correlation with nasal resistance and Lund-Mackay CT score. However, no significant correlation was found between nasalance score and endoscopic polyp score. CONCLUSION: Contrary to expectations, nasalance was increased in CRS patients despite decreased nasal volume and increased nasal resistance. Thus, nasal resonance likely depends on a multitude of factors other than changes in the sinonasal cavity.
Adult ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Polyps ; Polyps ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Sinusitis ; Voice Quality

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) on nasalance in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Eighty-one CRS patients were enrolled. The nasalance scores for oral, oro-nasal, and nasal passages were measured by nasometry and the nasal cavity volume was measured by acoustic rhinometry before and at 1 and 3 months after ESS. We divided the patients into four groups according to the following surgical interventions employed: unilateral anterior ethmoidectomy (group I), bilateral anterior ethmoidectomy (group II), bilateral total ethmoidectomy (group III), and bilateral pansinus surgery (group IV). We also divided the patients into three groups according to the CT scoring system and polyp grading system. RESULTS: In group III and IV, the nasalance scores for all passages and nasal cavity volume were significantly increased after ESS but did not return to its preoperative level at 3 months after surgery. However, there were no significant changes in nasalance scores or in the nasal cavity volume in group I. Similarly, there were no significant changes in nasalance scores in the mild group (CT scoring system) or no polyp group, whereas the nasalance scores were significantly increased postoperatively in the moderate to severe groups (CT scoring system), and in groups that have nasal polyp group. CONCLUSION: The nasalance scores and nasal cavity volumes were increased after ESS and remained unchanged until postoperative 3 months. Postoperative changes in nasalance scores were more remarkable in patients who had more severe disease and who underwent more extensive surgery.
Humans ; Methods ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Polyps ; Polyps ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Sinusitis ; Voice Quality