Nasal airway volumetric measurement using segmented HRCT images and acoustic rhinometry

Semiautomatic segmentation methods using High Resolution Computed Tomograph y (HRCT) or Magnetic Resonance Imaging give accurate and reproducible volum etric measurements in various intracranial diseases. In this prospective st udy, for the first time in literature, with the help of a new semiautomatic segmentation technique and coronal HRCT, we correlated the volumes and cro ss-sectional areas of the nasal cavity with those obtained by clinical acou stic rhinometry in 14 patients with chronic sinusitis. The measurements obt ained by both techniques showed statistically significant correlations betw een volumes in the anterior and middle parts, but statistically poor correl ations between the volumes in the posterior parr of the nasal cavity. Coron al HRCT and our new micro computer applicable semiautomatic segmentation so ftware pr-ol ed compatible with daily clinical practice. Based on the promi sing results of our study, we recommend the use of this technique in the va lidation studies of acoustic rhinometry and in complicated cases as a compl ementary examination in the evaluation of nasal cavity .