Fisher E W, Lund V J, Scadding G K
Royal National Throat, Nose and Ear Hospital, London, UK.
J R Soc Med. 1994 Jul;87(7):411-3. doi: 10.1177/014107689408700713.
Acoustic rhinometry is a new technique which evaluates nasal obstruction by analysing reflections of a sound pulse introduced via the nostrils. The technique is rapid, reproducible, non-invasive and requires minimal cooperation from the subject. Unlike rhinomanometry it does not require airflow. A graph of nasal cross-sectional area as a function of distance from the nostril is produced, from which several area and volume estimates of the nasal cavity can be derived. The reliability of the method is greatest in the anterior nasal cavity, which is the site of the nasal valve. We have applied the technique to the study of normal nasal physiology in adults and children and to a range of pathological conditions. The role of acoustic rhinometry in diagnosis is somewhat limited compared to nasal endoscopy, but it is useful for nasal challenge and for quantifying nasal obstruction. Monitoring of medical and surgical therapy is a more promising application. In future, acoustic rhinometry is likely to be of particular help in evaluating childhood nasal obstruction, as it is well tolerated by children as young as 3 years old-a group of patients to whom objective tests have hitherto been difficult to apply.
声反射鼻测量法是一种新技术，它通过分析经鼻孔引入的声脉冲的反射来评估鼻阻塞情况。该技术快速、可重复、非侵入性，且受试者只需极少配合。与鼻阻力测量法不同，它不需要气流。可以生成一幅鼻腔横截面积随距鼻孔距离变化的曲线图，由此可得出鼻腔的几个面积和容积估计值。该方法在前鼻腔（即鼻阀所在部位）的可靠性最高。我们已将该技术应用于成人和儿童正常鼻生理学的研究以及一系列病理状况的研究。与鼻内镜检查相比，声反射鼻测量法在诊断方面的作用 somewhat limited，但它对鼻激发试验和量化鼻阻塞有用。对药物和手术治疗的监测是一个更有前景的应用。未来，声反射鼻测量法在评估儿童鼻阻塞方面可能会特别有帮助，因为3岁的儿童就能很好地耐受该检查——而客观测试此前一直难以应用于这组患者。
