Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Nasal Airways

Abstract

Magnetic resonance imaging was used to demonstrate both erectile tissues and airway lumen of the nasal cavities together with their responses to lateral recumbent postures and to topical decongestant. The inferior turbinate and the anterior septal body responded to lateral recumbency by swelling in the inferior nasal cavity and reciprocal shrinking in the superior side and both responded to topical decongestant by shrinking. Converse changes in airway lumen took place in each case. In the untreated nose erectile tissues of the lateral nasal wall appeared to adapt to septal irregularities and to maintain a uniform width of the airway lumen in the more patent side. Erectile tissues on the lateral nasal wall anterior to the inferior turbinate and medially on the anterior septum were seen to intrude on the constricted region of the nasal valve where their potential to exert a critical influence on airflow resistance was evident.