Do chronic changes in nasal airflow have any physiological or pathological effect on the nose and paranasal sinuses? A systematic review.
.A reduction in nasal airflow associated with anatomical defects of the nose such as nasal septal deviation has been proposed to cause nasal pathology. . The majority of animal experiments where one nasal passage is surgically closed over several months report only minor changes in the histology of the nasal epithelium and no rhinitis or sinusitis. .Complete abolition of nasal airflow associated with laryngectomy or the treatment of atrophic rhinitis is not associated with the development of rhinitis or sinusitis. . Radiological studies have shown a lack of association between the degree of nasal septal deviation and evidence of rhinosinusitis. .Such studies provide evidence that reduced nasal airflow causes no significant nasal disease. . There is no convincing evidence that a reduction in nasal airflow is a causative factor for rhinitis or sinusitis.
Boyce
J
J
Common Cold Centre, Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK.
Eccles
R
R
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007825:Laryngectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000002:abnormalities; D009666:Nose / Q000473:pathology*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000209:etiology; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000473:pathology*; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000209:etiology*; D012222:Rhinitis, Atrophic / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D025363:Rhinomanometry; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000209:etiology*