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Physiological changes in the size of the septal swell body correlate with changes in inferior turbinate size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 April 2020

E H Wong ,
M Noussair ,
Z Hasan ,
M Duvnjak  and
N Singh
E H Wong*
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
M Noussair
Affiliation:
Department of Surgery, St George Hospital, Sydney, Australia
Z Hasan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
M Duvnjak
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia
N Singh
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Eugene H Wong, Department of Otolaryngology, Westmead Hospital, University of Sydney, Hawkesbury Rd, SydneyNSW2145, Australia E-mail: eugene.hl.wong@gmail.com
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Abstract

Objective

The nasal septal swell body is a normal anatomical structure located in the superior nasal septum anterior to the middle turbinate. However, the impact of the septal swell body in nasal breathing during normal function and disease remains unclear. This study aimed to establish that the septal swell body varies in size over time and correlates this with the natural variation of the inferior turbinates.

Method

Consecutive patients who underwent at least two computed tomography scans were identified. The width and height of the septal swell body and the inferior turbinates was recorded. A correlation between the difference in septal swell body and turbinates between the two scans was performed using a Pearson's coefficient.

Results

A total of 34 patients (53 per cent female with a mean age of 58.3 ± 20.2 years) were included. The mean and mean difference in septal swell body width between scans for the same patient was 1.57 ± 1.00 mm. The mean difference in turbinate width between scans was 2.23 ± 2.52 mm. A statistically significant correlation was identified between the difference in septal swell body and total turbinate width (r = 0.35, p = 0.04).

Conclusion

The septal swell body is a dynamic structure that varies in width over time in close correlation to the inferior turbinates. Further research is required to quantify its relevance as a surgical area of interest.

Keywords

Nasal ObstructionTurbinatesNasal SeptumNose DiseasesRhinitis
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 134 , Issue 4 , April 2020 , pp. 323 - 327
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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Footnotes

Dr E H Wong takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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