Background: Acoustic rhinometry indirectly calculates cross-sectional areas of the nose at various locations from the nostrils and the total volume of the nasal cavity. These parameters are calculated from an area-distance curve displayed by the device.
Methods: Seventy-seven adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years who had no nasal complaints were examined by acoustic rhinometry and fiberoptic nasal endoscopy in an attempt to compare and correlate areas of nasal narrowing detected by these two methods.
Results: The comparison between the distances to the various narrowed areas revealed a statistically significant correlation between the first three constrictions detected by acoustic rhinometry and the first three areas of anatomic narrowing measured by fiberoptic nasal endoscopy in both nares but no correlation between the fourth constriction and the fourth measurement on either side.
Conclusion: The results confirm an anatomic correlation between the two examination methods, identifying the first constriction as the nasal valve, the second constriction as the head of the inferior nasal turbinate, and the third constriction as the head of the middle turbinate. The fourth constriction did not correspond to the choanal region.