Acoustic Rhinometry in Nasal Provocation Test

Jang, Tae Young; Yun, Yeong Seok; Jung, Dong Hak; Kim, Byung Hun; Kim, Young Jin; Choi, Weon Suk

Original Article

Journal of Rhinology 1997;4(2):116-119.
Published online November 30, 1997.

Acoustic Rhinometry in Nasal Provocation Test

Tae Young Jang, Yeong Seok Yun, Dong Hak Jung, Byung Hun Kim, Young Jin Kim, Weon Suk Choi

Head and Neck Surgery, Inha University College of Medicine, Inchon, Korea.

Abstract

A nasal provocation test is the most reliable diagnostic test to confirm allergen in allergic rhinitis. However, there are neither specific objective methods nor a standardized method and interpretation. In 20 normal subjects and 86 allergic rhinitis patients, we applied acoustic rhinometry as a new objective method to assess changes in nasal patency induced by nasal allergen challenge, a procedure which is used for confirming allergic rhinitis. The result shows that a minimal cross-sectional area (MCA) and volume from the nose tip on back to 7 cm (nasal cavity volume) after allergen challenge were significantly decreased in allergic rhinitis patients in comparison with the control subjects. We conclude that acoustic rhinometry can provide a sensitive index for evaluating the results of a nasal provocation test.

Key Words: Acoustic rhinometry;Allergen;Nasal provocation