OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the effects of aging on nasality and the influence of age-related changes in nasal cavity volume and nasal patency on nasality. METHODS: A total of 180 healthy Korean-speaking adult volunteers, who had no nasal or voice-related complaints, were enrolled in this study. Nasometry, acoustic rhinometry, and rhinomanometry were performed to obtain the nasalance score, nasal cavity volume, and nasal resistance, respectively. Changes in these parameters with age were analyzed. RESULTS: Nasal cavity volume increased significantly, and nasal resistance decreased significantly, with age. The nasalance scores for the nasal passage and oronasal passage decreased significantly with age, while there were no age-related changes in nasalance scores for the oral passage. CONCLUSION: Nasalance scores for the passages containing nasal consonants decreased with age although significant increases were observed in nasal cavity volume and nasal patency with age. Therefore, the age-related decreases in nasalance scores may result from factors other than changes in the nasal cavity.
Adult ; Aging ; Humans ; Nasal Cavity ; Rhinomanometry ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Voice Quality ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: We investigated the seasonal variation of nonspecific hyperreactivity by performing the cold dry air (CDA) provocation test in both summer and winter in patients with rhinitis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We performed the CDA provocation test in 57 patients with allergic rhinitis (AR) or non-allergic rhinitis (NAR). Depending on the season and the type of rhinitis, we divided patients into four groups (Summer AR group, n=17; Winter AR group, n=15; Summer NAR group, n=18 and Winter NAR group, n=7) and compared the changes in nasal symptoms, total nasal volume (TNV), and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) measured by acoustic rhinometry after CDA provocation in each group. RESULTS: When the CDA provocation was performed for AR patients in summer, nasal symptoms improved slightly, which was significantly different from those shown in winter (Summer AR vs. Winter AR, p=0.012). In addition, there was a significant difference in symptom change between AR and NAR patients in the summer (Summer AR vs. Summer NAR, p=0.033). There was no significant difference in TNV or MCA changes after CDA provocation depending on the type of rhinitis and season (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: When performing CDA provocation in AR patients in summer, the examiner should pay attention to the possible paradoxical response.
Humans ; Methods ; Nasal Provocation Tests ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Seasons

PURPOSE: Children with sensitization to aeroallergens have decreased lung function and nasal patency. Our purpose was to determine the association of sensitization to different aeroallergens with airway function and nasal patency. METHODS: Four hundred and eighty-six randomly selected 11 year-old children who lived in Seongnam City were examined. Serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels against 6 common allergens (Dermatophagoidesfarinae, birch, cat, dog, Japanese hop and Alternaria), impulse oscillometry (IOS) results for the evaluation of airway dysfunction, and acoustic rhinometry for the determination of nasal airway patency were obtained. RESULTS: IOS indicated that children sensitized to Alternaria (n = 38, 7.8%) and dog dander (n = 69, 14.2%) had decreased lung function, based on resistance at 10 Hz (Rrs10; aβ = 0.0072; 95% CI, 0.017, 0.127; P = 0.010) and 1 Hz (Rrs1; aβ = 0.038; 95% CI, 0.001, 0.074; P = 0.042). Children sensitized to D. farinae (n = 281, 57.8%) had decreased post-decongestant nasal volume at 0 to 5 cm (aβ = −0.605; 95% CI, −1.005, −0.205; P = 0.003), but normal IOS results at all measured frequencies (P > 0.05). Increased serum eosinophil level was associated with Rrs1 (P = 0.007) and Rrs2 (P = 0.018) and post-decongestant nasal volume at 0 to 5 cm (aβ = −0.885; 95% CI, −1.331, −0.439; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity to specific aeroallergens, serum eosinophil count and total IgE level had different associations with upper and lower airway dysfunction in urban children.
Allergens ; Alternaria ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Cats ; Child ; Dander ; Dogs ; Eosinophils ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Jupiter ; Lung ; Oscillometry ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of unilateral nasal packing on the correction of recurred septal deviation after septoplasty. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We analyzed 12 patients who had undergone septoplasty and developed septal deviation recurrence. Polyvinylacetate and Vaseline gauze were inserted into the nasal passage on the convex side of the septum for 4 days in order to shift the septum to the midline. We analyzed nasal symptoms, acoustic rhinometric results, and endoscopic findings before and after unilateral packing in order to evaluate the treatment outcomes. RESULTS: Ten (83%) out of 12 patients showed improvements in nasal obstruction, acoustic rhinometric results, and endoscopic findings. The mean visual analogue scale (VAS) score for nasal obstruction was 5.25±1.60 before and 2.08±1.50 after packing (p=0.004). The minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) improved from 0.17±0.14 to 0.27±0.13 (p=0.002), and the mean endoscopic score improved from 2.0±0.43 to 1.08±0.29 (p=0.002). CONCLUSION: Unilateral nasal packing was a safe, easy, and effective method for correcting recurred septal deviation after septoplasty.
Acoustics ; Humans ; Methods ; Nasal Obstruction ; Petrolatum ; Recurrence ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various techniques have been reported for the correction of deviated nasal septum, most of them for caudal septal cartilage. For deviated posterior septal cartilage, the typical method of the day is the resection of deviated portion. However, we developed a bone anchoring technique that conservatively corrects deviated posterior septal cartilage. The aim of the current study is to determine the efficacy of this bone anchoring technique. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: The patients who had undergone septoplasty using bone anchoring technique by a single surgeon (J.S.K) between October 2015 and June 2016 were enrolled in this study. The result of the surgery was evaluated using a visual analogue scale (VAS, ranged 0– 10) for nasal obstruction, acoustic rhinometry, and assessment of surgeon. RESULTS: A total of 44 patients were included in this study. The VAS of nasal obstruction was significantly decreased after surgery from 7.5±1.7 to 2.4±1.4. In acoustic rhinometry, minimal cross-sectional area and volume were increased after surgery from 0.35±0.18 to 0.52±1.40 cm2 and from 3.6±1.1 to 5.8±1.5 cm3, respectively. Most of the deviated septum was well corrected, and complication or recurrence did not developed. CONCLUSION: Bone anchoring technique is easy to perform. It enables the preservation of septal cartilage, which is useful in revision septoplasty or rhinoplasty. We conclude that this technique is a good method for the correction of deviated posterior septal cartilage.
Cartilage ; Humans ; Methods ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum* ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Recurrence ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Rhinoplasty ; Suture Anchors*

OBJECTIVES: Middle vault deviation has a significant effect on the aesthetic and functional aspects of the nose, and its management continues to be a challenge. Spreader graft and its modification techniques have been focused, but there has been scarce consideration for removing surplus portion and balancing the upper lateral cartilage (ULC). This study aimed to report the newly invented triangular-shaped resection technique (“triangular resection”) of the ULC and to evaluate its efficacy for correcting middle vault deviation. METHODS: A retrospective study included 17 consecutive patients who presented with middle vault deviation and underwent septorhinoplasty by using triangular resection at a tertiary academic hospital from February 2014 and March 2016. Their outcomes were evaluated pre- and postoperatively including medical photographs, acoustic rhinometry and subjective nasal obstruction using a 7-point Likert scale. RESULTS: The immediate outcomes were evaluated around 1 month after surgery, and long-term outcomes were available in 12 patients; the mean follow-up period was 9.1 months. Nasal tip deviation angle was reduced from 5.66° to 2.37° immediately (P < 0.001). Middle vault deviation also improved from 169.50° to 177.24° (P < 0.001). Long-term results were 2.49° (P=0.015) for nasal tip deviation and 178.68° (P=0.002) for middle vault deviation. The aesthetic outcome involved a complete correction in eight patients (47.1%), a minimally visible deviation in seven patients (41.2%) and a remaining residual deviation in two patients (11.8%). Pre- and postoperative minimal cross-sectional areas (summation of the right and left sides) were 0.86 and 1.07, respectively (P=0.021). Fifteen patients answered about their nasal obstruction symptoms and the median symptom score had alleviated from 6.0 to 3.0 (P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Triangular resection of the ULC is a simple and effective method for correcting middle vault deviation and balancing the ULCs without complications as internal nasal valve narrowing.
Cartilage* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methods ; Nasal Cartilages ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nose ; Nose Deformities, Acquired ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Rhinoplasty ; Transplants

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical characteristics and outcome of septoplasty in patients complaining of paradoxical nasal obstruction. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Medical records of 637 patients who underwent septoplasty from 2011 to 2016 were reviewed retrospectively. One hundred sixty-nine patients whose follow up periods were longer than 3 months were included. These patients were categorized into two groups, the experimental group (paradoxical nasal obstruction) and the control group. We analyzed the degree of nasal obstruction, the sino-nasal outcome test (SNOT)-22 score, which is the sino-nasal outcome, and the minimal cross-sectional area in acoustic rhinometry. The effect of concurrent turbinoplasty was also evaluated. RESULTS: Paradoxical nasal obstruction was found in 19 patients (11.2%). Compared to the control group, the degree of mucosal change (both concave and convex side) had no statistical significance. Although the degree of nasal obstruction and SNOT-22 scores were significantly improved after surgery in both groups (p<0.05), the values for the experimental group were slightly increased at 3 months of surgery after having been improved at one month of surgery. In contrast, those values improved steadily over time in the control group. The tendency of psychologic domain scores was significantly different between the two groups (p=0.021). The results of volume reductive turbinoplasty showed that it maintained the improved symptoms better when performed along with septoplasty. CONCLUSION: Although septoplasty showed beneficial effects in patients with paradoxical nasal obstruction, the effect of septoplasty decreased over time. Concurrent volume reductive turbinate surgery maintained the effect of septoplasty in paradoxical nasal obstruction.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Methods ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Septum ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Turbinates

BACKGROUND: Turbinate hypertrophy is one of the common causes of chronic nasal obstruction. In principle, therapeutic guidelines recommend medical treatment. Failure to treat turbinate thickening despite drug therapy may indicate the need for surgery. The main aim of this study was to determine the effect of radiofrequency surgery, among various other surgical procedures, on people with both nasal septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy. METHODS: Among people with nasal deviation who visited the subject hospital between July 2008 to July 2014, 21 people with nasal septal deviation and severe turbinate hypertrophy before their surgery had undergone septoplasty with turbinoplasty using radiofrequency combined with septoplasty. The degree of the turbinate's hypertrophy was appraised in all the patients before and after the surgery using the rhinoscopy, and acoustic rhinometry was objectively carried out. The subjective effect of the turbinoplasty using radiofrequency was explored through the visual analog scale (VAS) score. RESULTS: The degree of contraction of the nasal mucosa after the rhinoscopy changed from Grades 3 and 4 (100%) to Grades 1 and 2 (95.2%) and Grades 3 (4.8%). The minimal cross-sectional area significantly increased from 0.44±0.07 to 0.70±0.07 cm² (p<0.05). The nasal cavity volume increased from 4.79±0.49 to 6.76±0.55 cm² (p<0.05). The subjective symptoms evaluated with VAS score a year after the surgery significantly improved (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Turbinoplasty using Coblator with septoplasty is an effective treatment method because it expands nasal cavity, has a low incidence of complications, subjectively improves symptoms, and has short treatment duration.
Drug Therapy ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Incidence ; Methods ; Nasal Cavity ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nasal Obstruction ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Rhinoplasty ; Turbinates ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the clinical usefulness of Allerkin (Lofarma) for nasal provocation testing (NPT) in patients with rhinitis symptoms, by examining changes in nasal symptoms and acoustic parameters after exposure to house dust mite (HDM) extract. METHODS: Twenty patients (16 males and 4 females, mean age: 29.6±14.6 years) were enrolled. We performed skin prick test (SPT) before and 15 and 30 minutes after intranasal challenge with Allerkin HDM extract, and we evaluated symptom changes (nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing, and itching) using a visual analogue scale. We also evaluated changes in acoustic parameters such as total nasal volume (TNV) and minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) before and after challenge. RESULTS: Group A (the nonallergic group, n=8) showed negative results for all tested aeroallergens in SPT and nonprovocative results ( < 25% decrease of TNV and MCA from the baseline value) in NPT. Group B (the allergic group, n=7) exhibited strongly positive results (wheal size larger than that of histamine) for HDM allergens on SPT. Group C (the local allergic group, n=5) showed negative results on SPT, but a provocative response on NPT (>29% decrease in TNV/MCA from the baseline value). Patients in group C showed significant aggravation of nasal obstruction compared to those in group A (P < 0.05). Thirty minutes after HDM challenge, patients in groups B and C showed significantly greater decreases in MCA compared to those in group A (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Allerkin HDM extract can be a useful provocative agent in NPT for diagnosing allergic rhinitis and local allergic rhinitis.
Acoustics ; Allergens ; Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus ; Dust* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nasal Obstruction ; Nasal Provocation Tests* ; Pyroglyphidae* ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Rhinometry, Acoustic ; Skin ; Sneezing

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