Objective Computerized Determination of the Minimum Cross-Sectional Area of the Nasal Passage on Computed Tomography

Objectives/Hypothesis: Current methods that measure cross-sectional areas of the nasal passage on computed tomography (CT) do not determine the minimum cross-sectional area that may be an impor-tant factor in nasal airway resistance. Objective mea-surement of the dimensions of the nasal passage may help in the diagnosis, as well as the choice and eval-uation of surgical treatment for upper airway insuf-ficiencies. Study Design: Retrospective and clinical study. Methods: Software was developed that auto-matically calculates the minimum cross-sectional area of the nasal passage on CT. Results: Evaluation shows that the minimization algorithm in the soft-ware reliably calculates the position and orientation of the oblique plane on which the minimum cross-section lies. Conclusion: The developed method may be used for objective and observer-independent eval-uation of surgical treatment options. Key Words: Na-sal valve, cross-sectional area, computed tomography, rhinomanometry, resistance. Laryngoscope, 115:1809–1812, 200