Correlation Between the Septal Body and the Nasal Turbinates in Patients With Deviated Nasal Septum.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the degree of deviation and the sizes of nasal turbinates and the septal body (SB) on each side separately and to compare the 2 sides, and to evaluate if there is a correlation between SB size and middle and inferior turbinate (IT) sizes on each side.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was made of paranasal computerized tomography scans obtained randomly from the database. Computerized tomography was performed at 120 kVp and 100 mA with 2 mm slice thickness. The study comprised 199 paranasal computerized tomography scans on each of which the width of the SB, the degree of deviation, and the width of the inferior and middle turbinates (MTs) were measured on each side separately.

RESULTS

In cases of moderate and severe deviation, the sizes of the SB, the MT, and IT contralateral to the deviation were statistically significantly larger than those on the ipsilateral side (P < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between SB size and the MT and IT sizes in each nasal cavity.

CONCLUSIONS

The SB is a dynamic structure and may play a role in regulation of nasal airflow.