Nasal Region Dimensions in Children: A CT Study and Clinical Implications

Abstract

Atresias of nasal cavity, especially in young children, pose an essential problem in children's otolaryngology. Only a few morphometric studies of nasal cavity concerning healthy neonates and young infants without nasal stenosis are available. Multislice computed tomography is a perfect tool enabling a precise evaluation of anatomic structures. The aim of this study was a complex morphometric evaluation of clinically important bone and mucosal structures of nasal cavity and examination of their dependence on age and sex in children up to 3 years of age. 180 children, age range 0–3 years, were divided into 5 age groups, and measurements of 18 distances between skeletal structures and between mucosal structures of nasal cavity were performed on their CT scans. A correlation between the widths of selected bone structures was examined. There were no statistically significant differences in analyzed morphometric parameters between adjacent age groups. The differences were statistically significant only between extreme age groups. There was a correlation between evaluated structures and age. Our results are a valuable supplement of nasal cavity morphometric data of young children. They may be useful in setting reference values of evaluated parameters in children and in diagnosis and planning of surgical treatment in children's otolaryngology.

Correlations between selected parameters of nasal cavity in neonates and young infants — computed tomography study

“…For nasopharynx vertical dimension (NVD) we have noted an average positive correlation of r xy = 0.351, statistically significant. Our previous study confirmed the correlation between nasal cavity dimensions and child's age, yet that correlation was of different strength [7]. In connection with the above, assessment has been made of mutual dependencies between the analysed structures, and the strength of those dependencies has been assessed, taking into account the location of measured dimensions within the nasal cavity and nasopharynx.…”

“…Studies by various authors demonstrated that the width of posterior nares itself increases with age by an accurately defined value. This has been confirmed by our earlier studies, in which we demonstrated that this dimension increases at the rate of 0.162 mm/week [7]. Slovis et al [14] assessed the change in posterior nares dimension in a group of neonates, children and young adults, from their day of birth until the age of 20.…”

“…During the first 2-3 years of child's life, the development of that area accelerates [8]. CT is a good tool for assessing bone structures, including those in the nasal cavity [7,12]. In accordance with the results of the study conducted by Weitzman et al [18], in which measurements made on skulls were compared with the measurements of bone structures on CT images, minimum differences between direct measurements on skulls and indirect measurements on tomograms confirm the supposition that measurements made on CT images are credible and accurately reflect the scanned object.…”

The Relationship Between Hard Tissue and Soft Tissue Dimensions of the Nose in Children: A 3D Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study

“…The study conducted by Djupesland and Lyholm (32) indicated that the size of the nose and the airspace in the nasal aperture did not depend upon the sex. Likus et al (33) reported the absence of statistically significant differences between the sexes, as regards the values and relations of all nasal parameters measured. The disagreement between findings could be explained by the differences in the age of the studied samples.…”

“…Likus et al. reported the absence of statistically significant differences between the sexes, as regards the values and relations of all nasal parameters measured. The disagreement between findings could be explained by the differences in the age of the studied samples.…”