[The use of acoustic rhinometry for the assessment of adenoid hypertrophy: a clinical study].
OBJECTIVE
In our study, we employed the method of acoustic rhinometry for preoperative and postoperative (after adenoidectomy) evaluation of 25 children between 3-12 years of age who suffered from adenoid hypertrophy.


METHODS
This method showed with accuracy the changes of the dimensions of the nasal cavity following the operation. The parameters which were evaluated prior and subsequent to the operation were the diameter of the nasal cavity in the area of the adenoids and the total volume of the nasal passage.


RESULTS
As shown by acoustic rhinometry, the change of the cross-sectional area of the nasopharynx was 59.43% on average. Similarly, the augmentation of the volume of the nasal cavity was 46.39 % on average. The change of the dimensions of the nasal cavity paralleled the alteration of clinical symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, we can assume that acoustic rhinometry can show with accuracy the dimensions of the nasal cavity, especially at the front part. It is also very useful in the assessment of the efficiency of the treatment in cases of nasal obstruction and especially of adenoid hypertrophy.
Noussios
George
G
ENT, Department of Hippokratio, General Hospital of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Grecia. geornous@hotmail.com
Skouras
Athanassios
A
Chouridis
Pantelis
P
Argyriou
Nektarios
N
Gougousis
Spyridon
S
Kontzoglou
George
G
D000234:Adenoids / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009305:Nasopharynx / Q000473:pathology; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index