The Role of Acoustic Rhinometry in Studying the Nasal Cycle

Rhinology, 1993

Authors: E. W. Fisher, G. K. Scadding, V. J. Lund

Conclusion: “Magnetic resonance Imaging is one way of expanding the sphere of study to the whole nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses, although it is prohibitively expensive for large scale studies. Acoustic rhinometry does not provide as extensive geometric information as MRI, but allow the whole nasal cavity and nasopharynx to be analyzed, and is thus superior to rhinomanometry in studying the [nasal] cycle. The method also requires minimal subject cooperation, is rapid (3.5 min for four analyses), reproducible, inexpensive (comparable to rhinomanometry) and does not depend on nasal airflow. This pilot study shows that the technique can usefully be applied to studying the nasal cycle.”