Acoustic rhinometry of Asian noses.
BACKGROUND
Each ethnic group has different nasal cavity geometries. The reference value of the minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and the nasal volume (NV) is mandatory for rhinologic evaluation in regular practice and for research. This study was designed to study the normal value of acoustic rhinometry (AR) in Asian subjects in comparison with other ethnic groups.


METHODS
AR was performed in 135 healthy Thai subjects. Subjects were divided into two groups: group I, with normal anterior rhinoscopic appearance; group II included subjects with asymptomatic, slightly deviated nasal septa.


RESULTS
The mean of the MCA was 0.61 +/- 0.60 cm2 before decongestion and 0.64 +/- 0.14 cm2 after decongestion. The mean distance from the nostril to the point of MCA (D) was 1.66 +/- 0.59 cm before decongestion and 1.41 +/- 0.74 cm after decongestion. The mean of the NV measured between 0 and 4 cm was 3.66 +/- 0.67 cm3 before decongestion and 4.18 +/- 0.75 cm3 after decongestion. Before decongestion, there were no significant differences in the mean of the MCA, D, and NV between group I and group II subjects; however, there were significant differences in mean MCA and NV after decongestion. There were no differences in the parameters between male and female subjects before decongestion, except for the D, but after decongestion the mean values of the MCA, D, and NV were significantly higher in male subjects compared with female subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study can be used as a reference value for Asian ethnicities. Thai subjects had measurements comparable with those of the European study and somewhat different from the study in black populations.
Tantilipikorn
Pongsakorn
P
Division of Rhinology and Allergy, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand. siptv@mahidol.ac.th
Jareoncharsri
Perapun
P
Voraprayoon
Siriporn
S
Bunnag
Chaweewan
C
Clement
Peter A
PA
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009666:Nose / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012016:Reference Values; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic; D013785:Thailand