Comparison of the Relative Abilities of Acoustic Rhinometry, Rhinomanometry, and the Visual Analogue Scale in Detecting Change in the Nasal Cavity in a Healthy Adult Population

Abstract

The relative abilities of acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, and subjective sensation of nasal patency, as recorded using a Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), were compared in a group of 51 healthy volunteers. All three methods were able to detect a change following the application of a nasal decongestant. A 27.5% change in minimum cross sectional area, a 13.29% change in nasal resistance, and a 30.7% change in the sensation of nasal patency was observed. No correlation was demonstrated between either acoustic rhinometry or rhinomanometry and subjective sensation, and only a weak correlation was found between acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry.