title: A comparative analysis of intranasal volume and olfactory function using a three-dimensional reconstruction of paranasal sinus computed tomography, with a focus on the airway around the turbinates.
abstract: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the intranasal airway around the turbinates and olfactory function. In total, 32 nostrils of 16 patients who were awaiting septal surgery were involved in this study. For measurements of the volume of the nasal cavity, paranasal sinus computed tomography scans were performed and reconstructed into three-dimensional images. The Butanol Threshold Test and Cross-Cultural Smell Identification Test were used to evaluate olfactory function. The results were analyzed with Pearson's test. The volume around the turbinates was significantly correlated with the olfactory threshold. However, olfactory identification had no significant correlation with each volume. The airway around the turbinates is very important for nasal airflow and its volume influences olfactory function. Understanding such relationships may help in preserving or improving olfactory function in septal, turbinate or sinus surgery. Further studies are needed regarding the relationships between not only the volume of the nasal cavity and nasal airflow, but also between nasal volume changes and olfactory function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, College of Medicine, Uijeongbu St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, #65-1 Geumo-Dong, Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi-Do, 480-717, Korea.
authors.forename: Beom Cho
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Jun
authors.forename: Sun Wha
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Byung Guk
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Boo Young
authors.initials: BY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Hyun
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Jun Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Yong Jin
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jin Hee
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009929:Organ Size / Q000502:physiology; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012123:Pulmonary Ventilation / Q000502:physiology*; D012016:Reference Values; D012684:Sensory Thresholds / Q000502:physiology; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology; D012984:Software; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014420:Turbinates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult