Abstract
In acoustic rhinometry (AR), an audible acoustic signal is transmitted into the nasal cavity, the reflected sounds are measured, and the resulting electrical signals are analyzed by software that provides a graphical presentation of two-dimensional area section–length relationships. This method is used worldwide in both clinical facilities and research laboratories. It can also be applied to objectively evaluate rhinal patency. The credibility of the method is maximal in the front nasal passage, which acts as a rhinal valve. The advantage of an objective measurement tool is that it provides functional data and is easy to use in research to assess nasal airway resistance. AR may also allow for the visualization of dynamic airway processes. Nonetheless, any assessment method should be used under the same ambient conditions, accounting for factors such as subject resting time, body position, and temperature. AR is a noninvasive, quick method which is performed readily with least patient cooperation. These characteristics account for why the method has been shortly recognized by many as noninvasive and it measures nasal cavity volumes and cross-sectional areas via sound pulse technology. A spark generator produces a 150–10,000 Hz sound pulse, it proceeds along a 90-cm Bakelite wave tube 1.5 cm in diameter. The wave enters the nasal airway via a Perspex nosepiece. This chapter provides fundamental knowledge on AR and attempts to incorporate vital aspects of the method, particularly from an objective perspective.
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Çetinkaya, E.A., Yılmaz, M.D., Bayar Muluk, N. (2020). Acoustic Rhinometry. In: Cingi, C., Bayar Muluk, N. (eds) All Around the Nose. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21217-9_14
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-21217-9_14
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