Detection of the nasal cycle with acoustic rhinometry: Techniques and applications

Acoustic rhinometry is an appropriate method for detecting and recording th e nasal cycle in normal subjects in terms of the cross-sectional areas and volume of the nasal cavity, In this study, we tried to detect and to define the nasal cycle in normal subjects so that we might develop a reliable and reproducible technique to be used in conjunction with studies on the physi ology and pathology of nasal disease. We used normal volunteer adult subjec ts and performed bilateral acoustic rhinometry measurements every 15 minute s over 4 hours, along with the use of a visual analog scale for assessment of the subjective feeling of congestion (or patency) just before each acous tic rhinometry measurement. Volume and cross-sectional area changes were ob served along with subjective patency-score changes in each subject, The sub jective feeling of patency was not related to the volume and cross-sectiona l area changes measured simultaneously. The technique of recording the nasa l cycle with acoustic rhinometry in nasal research is presented.