Choanal atresia: long-term follow-up with objective evaluation of nasal airway and olfaction.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to determine the status of nasal airway and olfaction of adult subjects born with choanal atresia (CA).


METHODS
A case-control study was conducted to compare the quality of nasal airway and olfaction in a group of adults born with CA to a similar group of normal subjects. Objective evaluation of nasal airway and olfaction were done respectively by acoustic rhinometry and the University of Pennsylvania Smell Identification Test (UPSIT).


RESULTS
Thirty-six choanal atresia patients aged 16 to 36 were found in the medical records. Five bilateral and two unilateral cases were recruited for the study. An average score of 27/40 (moderate hyposmia) was obtained by the bilateral cases compared with 37/40 (normal) by the controls. These results were statistically significant (Wilcoxon signed rank test and sign test statistic, P = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Using the UPSIT, the bilateral CA patients have shown, on average, a moderate loss of the sense of smell when compared with normal controls of a similar age group. Acoustic rhinometry is not a useful study for posterior nasal conditions.
Leclerc
Jacques E
JE
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Laval University, Quebec City, Canada. jeleclerc@ccapcable.com
Leclerc
Jean Thomas
JT
Bernier
Karine
K
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002754:Choanal Atresia / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000857:Olfaction Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors