Clin Exp Otorhinolaryngol.  2017 Dec;10(4):338-343. 10.21053/ceo.2017.00080.

Radiographic Changes of the Nasal Septal Body Among Patients With Sinonasal Diseases

• E Gelera J
• Ojar D
• Lim JH
• Wee JH
• Kim JW
• Rhee CS

• KMID: 2396789
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21053/ceo.2017.00080

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
This study aims to determine the anatomical changes occurring in the nasal septal body (NSB) among patients with sinonasal disease and compares the measurements obtained from patients without sinonasal disease.
METHODS
This was a retrospective study involving review of 405 (93 without and 212 with sinonasal disease) plain paranasal sinus computed tomography (PNS CT) on coronal view at a tertiary training hospital, which was done consecutively from January 2014 to December 2015. NSB measurements from 3 areas were done: anterior part (A), located anterior and superior to inferior turbinate; middle or widest (M) part, located anterior to middle turbinate and superior to inferior turbinate and posterior (P) part, located within the anterior 1/3 of middle turbinate not going beyond the crista galli. Posterior part of septum (sP) was measured at the area of horizontal attachment of middle turbinate to the lateral nasal wall and superior turbinate to represent the less vasoactive part of the septum. Demographic data and NSB diameters were also analyzed.
RESULTS
The mean NSB diameter measurements were significantly larger among the diseased group (disease vs. control; A: 6.88 mm vs. 5.92 mm, P=0.001; M: 12.74 mm vs. 10.47 mm, P=0.001; P: 8.35 mm vs. 6.79 mm, P=0.001). A similar observation in sP part (3.35 mm vs. 2.54 mm, P=0.014) was noted. When grouped by age, among the control group, older subjects had considerable decrease in NSB size in all points of measurements except for sP (P>0.05). Such reduction in size is noticeable for those in their 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th decades of life. For the diseased group, a trend of increasing NSB and sP size was noted as the subjects are getting older. However, only the anterior part (A) of NSB reached statistical significance (P=0.016).
CONCLUSION
With aging we expect nasal mucosal atrophy among normal subjects. However, patients with chronic sinonasal disease showed thickened nasal mucosa. Further study for the reversibility of thickened mucosa is needed.

Keyword

Nasal Septal Body; Nasal Septal Swell Body

MeSH Terms

Aging
Atrophy
Humans
Mucous Membrane
Nasal Mucosa
Retrospective Studies
Turbinates

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Measurement of nasal septal body (NSB) and posterior sep tum. The red lines in left side of figures indicate the level of measurement, and those in middle and right sides of figures indicate the actual measurement. (A) NSB anterior part, (B) NSB middle or widest part, (C) NSB posterior part, and (D) posterior part of septum.

• 

  Fig. 2. Nasal septal body (NSB) diameter by age group between control and diseased group. (A) NSB anterior part, (B) NSB middle or widest part, (C) NSB posterior part, and (D) posterior part of septum.

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