[Determination of significant parameters of the pyriform aperture in functional and surgical aspects. Part 1]

Currently, scientific literature contains publications on the structure of the pyriform aperture (PA) in various ethnic groups, analyzing parameters such as the height and width of the PA at different levels, index, shape, and area. However, in most cases, these parameters are of anatomical rather than surgical significance.

The aim of this study is to determine additional parameters of the piriform aperture that will have practical surgical significance and to calculate their standards.

Piriform aperture parameters were determined using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) data from 577 adult patients from central Russia, classified as Central European Caucasians (≥18 years, 273 men, and 304 women). Participants were divided into homogeneous age groups (18-44, 45-59, 60-74, and ≥75 years).

Based on the functional importance of the anterior bony end of the inferior turbinate (IT), according to CBCT data we identified and determined the average values of 4 functional parameters in the PA region, which in men and women, respectively, are: the width of the nasal cavity at the level of the attachment site of the anterior bony end of the IT (22.85±1.89 and 22.45±1.89 mm), the width of the piriform aperture in the projection of the attachment site of the anterior bony end of the IT (22.95±1.87 and 22.24±1.76 mm), the length of the piriform ridge (2.10±0.08 and 2.05±0.09 mm) and the angle of the piriform ridge (91.73±1.07° and 87.30±0.94°).

The results of this study should be included in the algorithm for examining patients before surgical treatment of chronic nasal obstruction when anatomical narrowing of the internal nasal valve is suspected.