Study of adult nasal airway by multi-slice spiral CT / 中华放射学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the characteristics and value of nasal area-distance curves.Methods Based on data from CT images, nasal cavity cross-sectional areas in 60 volunteers were reconstructed. The size of each nasal airway and the distance from nostril to the corresponding cross-sectional area were measured. Area-distance curves were then established according to data obtained. t test was used to analysis the data. Results Three types of curves were found and categorized according to their shapes.Type Ⅰ consisted of 56 sides (46.7%) ,type Ⅱ 40 sides(33.3%), and type Ⅲ 24 sides (20. 0% ). Forcurves of nasal valve area, smooth type was seen in 86 sides (71.7%), and concave type in 34 sides(28.3%). Curves in area of inferior turbinate head were seen with shallow notch(48 sides,40.0%) ,deep notch (54 sides,45.0%), and no notch( 18 sides,15.0% ). Curves in area of middle turbinate head wereseen with shallow notch (31 sides, 25.8%), deep notch (38 sides, 31.7%), and no notch ( 51 sides,42. 5% ). Nasal minimal cross-sectional area was located at nasal valve area in76 sides (63.3%), head of inferior turbinate in 26 sides ( 21.7% ), region anterior to nasal valve in 15 sides ( 12. 5% ), head ofmiddle turbinate in 1 side, and region anterior to choana in 2 sides. The cross-sectional area at nasal valve in men and women were (197.9 ±41.2) and (151.2 ±35.5) mm2, respectively. The cross-sectional area at choana in men and women were (361.8±97.9) and (296.3 ± 81.8) mm2, respectively. There wassignificant difference between men and women at both sites (t = 4.707 and 0. 007, P ＜ 0.01). The distance from nostril to nasal valve in men and women were (14. 0 ± 2.4) and ( 11.8 ± 2. 9) mm, which presented significant difference, too (t = 3. 232,P ＜ 0. 01). Conclusions CT nasal area-distance curve varied with individual, CT may provide information for evaluating nasal passage on individual basis