NASAL FOSSA DIMENSIONS IN NORMAL AND NASALLY OBSTRUCTED NEONATES AND INFANTS - PRELIMINARY-STUDY

Computed tomography (CT) is a valuable imaging tool in the examination of neonates and infants with nasal obstruction. At present, however, it is difficult to quantitatively evaluate the nasal fossa with CT as normative data and the relative significance of individual nasal fossa dimensions have not been established. A standardized CT image was pro posed, and performed on a prospective cohort of 56 infants up to 1 yea r of age. A parental questionnaire was used to identify infants with n asal obstruction. Normative data for four nasal fossa dimensions are p resented and analyzed. The statistical validity of these dimensions in the diagnosis of nasal obstruction was examined; only the maximal pos terior bony diameter showed a significant difference between normal an d nasally obstructed infants (t-test, P = 0.05). Examples of CT findin gs in the above-mentioned cases as well as past cases of 'choanal sten osis' are demonstrated.