title: Assessment of nasal cycle by acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to investigate the pattern, duration, and amplitude of nasal cycle and its response to nasal decongestant.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten adult volunteers attended 2 sessions (with and without nasal spray of 0.1% xylometazoline) for consecutive examinations by rhinomanometry and acoustic rhinometry every 10 minutes over 6 hours.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A spontaneous fluctuation in nasal minimum cross-sectional area, volume, and nasal resistances (inspiration and expiration) could be observed in every consecutive measurement. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.33 to -0.70, P < 0.05) between both nasal passages was shown in 5 subjects by rhinomanometry and in 2 subjects by acoustic rhinometry but was not detectable after nasal spray with 0.1% xylometazoline.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A spontaneous fluctuation in nasal patency can be documented every 10 minutes with irregular pattern, frequency, and amplitude. Classic nasal cycle is not a universal phenomenon, which can be abolished by the application of decongestant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine, the National University of Singapore, Singapore.
authors.forename: Zhi Li
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Kee Leong
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Ong
authors.forename: Sze Yi
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.forename: Han Lim
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.forename: Kian Hian
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Yeoh
authors.forename: De Yun
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014663:Nasal Decongestants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009666:Nose / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012221:Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic
chemical_list: D014663:Nasal Decongestants