title: Congenital pyriform aperture stenosis.
abstract: Nasal airway obstruction is a potentially life-threatening condition in the newborn. Neonates are obligatory nasal breathers. The pyriform aperture is the narrowest, most anterior bony portion of the nasal airway, and a decrease in its cross-sectional area will significantly increase nasal airway resistance. Congenital nasal pyriform aperture stenosis (CNPAS) is a rare, unusual form of nasal obstruction. It should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any neonate or infant with signs and symptoms of upper airway compromise. It is important to differentiate this level of obstruction from the more common posterior choanal stenosis or atresia. CNPAS presents with symptoms of nasal airway obstruction, which are often characterized by episodic apnea and cyclical cyanosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Schneider Pediatric Hospital, Petach Tikvah, Israel. mikio@clalit.org.il
authors.forename: Micky
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Osovsky
authors.forename: Anat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aizer-Danon
authors.forename: Gadi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Horev
authors.forename: Lea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sirota
mesh_terms: D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003251:Constriction, Pathologic / Q000151:congenital / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000151:congenital* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed