Nasal cavity volume and nasopharyngeal cavity volume in adults measured by acoustic rhinometry

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the range of normal value of total nasal cavity volume(NV) and total nasopharyngeal cavity volume (NPV) of healthy adults. METHOD: Six hundred and fifty-nine healthy adults and eighty-two adults of chronic rhinitis were measured with acoustic rhinometry. RESULT: The range of NV was 29.922-37.481 cm3 and NPV was 29.369-44.159 cm3. Comparing healthy adults with adults of chronic rhinitis, there was a significant difference in NV. CONCLUSION: Acoustic rhinometry suited for objective assessment of the nasal airways in adults. It was demonstrated that these data could provide available information for the study of nasal physiology and pathophysiology, as well as for the diagnosis and judgement of therapeutic effectiveness of nasal diseases.