[Acoustic rhinometry evaluation of adenoid hypertrophy and adenoidectomy efficacy]

Adenoid hypertrophy is a problem of more than 1/3 of children and is the predominant reason of otolaryngology consultations in this population. Diagnosis and surgical qualification are based on physical examination and other methods introduced more than 100 years ago. Development of endoscopic techniques has been found this method to be a gold standard in adenoid assessment up to date. However, the method is difficult to performed in some young patient because of their invasiveness. Acoustic assessment of nosopharyngs seems to be a new promising method.

Were an assessment of nasal obstruction due to adenoid hypertrophy in group of patients referring to adenoidectomy and an objective evaluation of changes in the volume of the nasopharynx after adenoidectomy.

The examination was carried on the group of 30 patients aged 5-10 y.o. with adenoid hypertrophy admitted for adenoidectomy. The control group consisted of 10 children free of otolaryngological problems. All studied individuals had acoustic rhinometry performed and additionally, endoscopic method such as rhynofiberoscopy and endoscopy of nasopharyngs were introduced in the patient's group.

The study showed that children with adenoid hypertrophy have statistically significant reduction of nasopharyngeal volume (NPV) vs control group. Adenoidectomy increases the NPV parameter and makes it equal to control group.

The acoustic rhynometry seems to be a promising method in assessment of nasopharyngeal volume. This and further studies may help to reduce the number of "unnecessary" adenoidectomies, by making standards for NPV in different group of age.