title: Nasal obstruction and unilateral chronic otitis media: evaluation by acoustic rhinometry.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In a prospective study at Umraniye Research and Education Hospital, we aimed to evaluate the differences in acoustic rhinometric findings between the affected and nonaffected sides in patients with unilateral chronic otitis media (COM) and to investigate whether unilateral COM correlates with the side of nasal obstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-five consecutive patients with unilateral COM were involved in this study. All patients were evaluated with acoustic rhinometry, the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, and measurement of their nasal mucociliary transport time.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean cross-sectional area 1, mean cross-sectional area 2, volume 1, and volume 2 values were not different between the affected and nonaffected sides (p > 0.05). The NOSE score had a reverse correlation with the mean cross-sectional area 2 (p < 0.05) and volume 2 (p < 0.01) of the affected side. Saccharin time was not correlated with the acoustic rhinometric values of the affected side (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings do not support the hypothesis that unilateral COM is correlated with the side of nasal obstruction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Umraniye Education and Research Hospital.
authors.forename: Sema Zer
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Toros
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Haydarpaşa Numune Education and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Cigdem Tepe
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Karaca
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Umraniye Education and Research Hospital.
authors.forename: Serap
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Onder
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Umraniye Education and Research Hospital.
authors.forename: Basak
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Caypinar
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Umraniye Education and Research Hospital.
authors.forename: Asli
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sahin-Yilmaz
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Umraniye Education and Research Hospital.
authors.forename: Cagatay
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Oysu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010033:Otitis Media / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D023842:Rhinometry, Acoustic / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult