Background: Otorhinolaryngologists require new diagnostic methods to give further insight into the physiology of nasal breathing. The functional aspects of radiological data in the field of ENT have rarely been examined. This study compares computed tomography (CT) scan area measurements of the paranasal sinuses with physiological data from rhinomanometry.
Patients and methods: In a retrospective study, paranasal CT scans from 36 patients were analysed for volume, width and hydraulic diameter of the five key regions of the nasal cavity (CT rhinometry) and compared to the active anterior rhinomanometric (RMM) results representing the gold standard in nasal flow description.
Results: The highest correlation between the rhinomanometric results and CT rhinometry was found at the internal ostium, followed by the diffuser region. The structures important for regulating nasal flow could thus be identified in the CT area data.
Conclusion: CT rhinometry revealed structures important for nasal breathing, in addition to providing anatomical and topographical data. CT rhinometry measured volumes, width and hydraulic diameters of the nasal cavity correlated with measurements of transnasal flow.