title: Radiographic and anatomic characterization of the nasal septal swell body.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze the radiographic, anatomic, and histologic characteristics of the nasal septal swell body.
  
  
  METHODS
  Computer-aided analysis of magnetic resonance images (MRIs) and histologic examination of cadaveric nasal septa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary medical center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four head MRI studies were performed on adult live patients; we also used 10 cadaveric nasal septa.
  
  
  METHODS
  Radiographic dimensions of the swell body and distances to other nasal landmarks were measured. Nasal septa and swell body histologic characteristics were evaluated using light microscopy. Relative proportions of vascular, connective, and glandular tissues within the swell body and the adjacent septum were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The swell body was fusiform shaped and located anterior to the middle turbinate, with mean (SD) width of 12.4 (1.9) mm; height, 19.6 (3.2) mm; and length, 28.4 (3.5) mm. The epicenter was 24.8 (2.9) mm from the nasal floor, 43.9 (4.1) mm from the nasal tip, and 39.0 (4.6) mm from the sphenoid face. Histologic analyses revealed that, compared with adjacent septal mucosa, the swell body contained significantly more venous sinusoids (37% vs 16%, P < .001) and fewer glandular elements (28% vs 41%, P < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The swell body is a conserved region of the septum located anterior to the middle turbinate approximately 2.5 cm above the nasal floor. The high proportion of venous sinusoids within the swell body suggests the capacity to alter nasal airflow. Additional study is required before these findings are used in a clinical setting.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, St Louis University Hospital, St Louis, MO 63110, USA. costadj@slu.edu
authors.forename: Dary J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sanford
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Janney
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.forename: Raj
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sindwani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002102:Cadaver; D003287:Contrast Media; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000033:anatomy & histology*
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media