Objectives: The association of piriform aperture dimensions, nasal floor asymmetry and nasal length with nasal breathing remains uncertain. These morphometric parameters are neither easily identified nor quantified with anterior rhinoscopy. The authors intended to investigate the correlation of these morphometric parameters with subjective nasal obstruction. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, subjects eligible for functional septo(rhino)plasty due to chronic nasal obstruction, with a preoperative computed tomography (CT) were eligible. Subjects filled out a visual analogue scale score (VAS: 0–4) and a nasal obstruction symptom evaluation score (NOSE: 0–100). In CT, the authors measured the piriform aperture dimensions, nasal floor asymmetry and nasal length, and they investigated their correlations with VAS and NOSE score. Results: In 40 subjects, the mean±SD of the piriform aperture width was 2.36±0.21 cm. The median value (lower quartile; upper quartile) of nasal floor asymmetry was 4.1 degrees (2.05; 8.18 degrees). Piriform aperture dimensions did not correlate with VAS or with NOSE score (all P >0.2). Nasal floor asymmetry correlated significantly with NOSE score ( r =0.48; P =0.007), but not with VAS score ( P =0.11). Nasal length correlated significantly with VAS score ( r =0.37; P =0.019), but not with NOSE score ( P =0.078). Conclusions: Nasal floor asymmetry and nasal length, not easily identified by anterior rhinoscopy, correlated significantly with subjective nasal obstruction. These findings highlighted the importance of CT in the workup of skeletal nasal stenosis.
Giotakis et al. (Wed,) studied this question.