ACOUSTIC RHINOMETRY - VALIDATION OF VOLUME CHANGES FOLLOWING INTRANASAL POLYPECTOMY

Acoustic rhinometry measures nasal cavity geometry by analysis of refl ected acoustic impulses. Previously, the technique has been applied to normals, patients with septal deviations and rhinitis and to monitor the medical treatment of nasal polyps. To date, no study has been publ ished to validate the application of this technique where nasal polyps are present. In this study, acoustic rhinometry has been used to asse ss the change in nasal cavity volume following intra-nasal polypectomy in 20 subjects. The volumes of the polyps removed surgically were mea sured by displacement and compared with the volume change recorded by acoustic rhinometry. A correlation of r = 0.59 (P = < 0.01) has been o btained. Therefore, it is possible to apply acoustic rhinometry as a m ethod of assessing non-surgical treatment of nasal polyps given certai n conditions.