Intersession Repeatability of Acoustic Rhinometry Measurements in Healthy Volunteers

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objectives. Acoustic rhinometry is a rapid, reliable and non-invasive technique for the evaluation of conditions associated with impaired nasal patency. This study aimed to examine the intersession repeatability of acoustic rhinometry measurements of unilateral and combined nasal parameters in a group of healthy volunteers.
Methods. Twenty healthy volunteers were studied. In each subject, acoustic rhinometry measurements were performed on five consecutive days, with multiple recordings. Five clinically relevant parameters were measured in each session and the intersession repeatability of these measurements was expressed in terms of mean coefficient of variation, intraclass correlation coefficient and inter-item correlations.
Results. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed a high, and greater repeatability over time for all the combined (mean)values compared to the unilateral values. All intraclass correlations for combined values were ≥0.80 confirming almost perfect agreement. All intraclass correlations and inter-item correlations were associated with P<0.001. The mean coefficient of variation was low (<10%) for all but the proximal minimum cross sectional area (MCA1) measurements.
Conclusion. Acoustic rhinometry provides highly repeatable measurements of nasal patency, which is best for combined (mean) nasal parameters. This property makes it suitable for use in the diagnosis and follow-up of conditions associated with nasal obstruction, either structural or functional.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Objectives. Acoustic rhinometry is a rapid, reliable and non-invasive technique for the evaluation of conditions associated with impaired nasal patency. This study aimed to examine the intersession repeatability of acoustic rhinometry measurements of unilateral and combined nasal parameters in a group of healthy volunteers.
Methods. Twenty healthy volunteers were studied. In each subject, acoustic rhinometry measurements were performed on five consecutive days, with multiple recordings. Five clinically relevant parameters were measured in each session and the intersession repeatability of these measurements was expressed in terms of mean coefficient of variation, intraclass correlation coefficient and inter-item correlations.
Results. Intraclass correlation coefficients showed a high, and greater repeatability over time for all the combined (mean)values compared to the unilateral values. All intraclass correlations for combined values were ≥0.80 confirming almost perfect agreement. All intraclass correlations and inter-item correlations were associated with P<0.001. The mean coefficient of variation was low (<10%) for all but the proximal minimum cross sectional area (MCA1) measurements.
Conclusion. Acoustic rhinometry provides highly repeatable measurements of nasal patency, which is best for combined (mean) nasal parameters. This property makes it suitable for use in the diagnosis and follow-up of conditions associated with nasal obstruction, either structural or functional.

참고문헌 (Reference)

1 Landis JR, 33 (33): 159-174, 1977

2 Castano R, "Reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry in the investigation of occupational rhinitis" 21 (21): 474-477, 2007

3 Silkoff PE, "Reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry and rhinomanometry in normal subjects" 13 (13): 131-135, 1999

4 Hopkins C, "Re: Correlation between subjective and objective evaluation of the nasal airway" 35 (35): 147-148, 2010

5 Gilain L, "Nasal cavity geometry measured by acoustic rhinometry and computed tomography" 123 (123): 401-405, 1997

6 Nurminen M, "Modelling the reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry" 19 (19): 1179-1189, 2000

7 Ognibene NE, "Intra- and intersession reliability of acoustic rhinometry in measuring nasal cross-sectional area" 80 (80): 536-540, 2001

8 Harar RP, "Improving the reproducibility of acoustic rhinometry in the assessment of nasal function" 64 (64): 22-25, 2002

9 Kesavanathan J, "Evaluation of acoustic rhinometry and posterior rhinomanometry as tools for inhalation challenge studies" 48 (48): 495-307, 1996

10 Andre RF, "Correlation between subjective and objective evaluation of the nasal airway: a systematic review of the highest level of evidence" 34 (34): 518-525, 2009

11 Numminen J, "Correlation between rhinometric measurement methods in healthy young adults" 16 (16): 203-208, 2002

12 Ouriques DM, "Correlation between fiberoptic nasal endoscopy and acoustic rhinometry in adults without nasal complaints" 20 (20): 375-378, 2006

13 Cheung EJ, "Comparison of optical rhinometry to acoustic rhinometry using nasal provocation testing with Dermatophagoides farinae" 143 (143): 290-293, 2010

14 Roithmann R, "Beproducibility of acoustic rhinometric measurements" 9 (9): 263-267, 1995

15 Terheyden H, "Acoustic rhinometry: validation by three-dimensionally reconstructed computer tomographic scans" 89 (89): 1013-1021, 2000

16 Corey JP, "Acoustic rhinometry: should we be using it?" 14 (14): 29-34, 2006

17 Hilberg O, Pedersen OF, "Acoustic rhinometry: recommendations for technical specifications and standard operating procedures" 16 (16): 3-17, 2000

18 Hilberg O, "Acoustic rhinometry: evaluation of nasal cavity geometry by acoustic reflection" 66 (66): 295-303, 1989

19 Cakmak O, "Acoustic rhinometry: accuracy and ability to detect changes in passage area at different locations in the nasal cavity" 114 (114): 949-957, 2005

20 Tarhan E, "Acoustic rhinometry in humans: accuracy of nasal passage area estimates, and ability to quantify paranasal sinus volume and ostium size" 99 (99): 616-623, 2005

21 Cankurtaran M, "Acoustic rhinometry in healthy humans: accuracy of area estimates and ability to quantify certain anatomic structures in the nasal cavity" 116 (116): 906-916, 2007

22 Munoz-Cano R, "Accuracy of acoustic rhinometry versus computed tomography in the evaluation of nasal cavity in patients with nasal polyposis" 48 (48): 224-227, 2010

23 Corey JP, "A comparison of the nasal cross-sectional areas and volumes obtained with acoustic rhinometry and magnetic resonance imaging" 117 (117): 349-354, 1997