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Influence of the location of nasal polyps on olfactory airflow and olfaction
Author(s) -
Nishijima Hironobu,
Kondo Kenji,
Yamamoto Takahisa,
Nomura Tsutomu,
Kikuta Shu,
Shimizu Yuya,
Mizushima Yu,
Yamasoba Tatsuya
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international forum of allergy and rhinology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.503
H-Index - 46
eISSN - 2042-6984
pISSN - 2042-6976
DOI - 10.1002/alr.22089
Subject(s) - olfaction , medicine , meatus , nasal polyps , olfactory system , airflow , nasal cavity , nose , anatomy , pathology , neuroscience , biology , mechanical engineering , psychiatry , engineering
Background Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) often results in decreased olfaction. In this study, we examined the relationship between nasal polyp location and olfactory airflow and odorant transport changes using virtual nasal polyp models at different locations and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. We also compared olfactory airflow and olfaction between patients with nasal polyps at different locations using CFD analysis and an olfactory test. Methods Nasal computed tomography images were used to generate a normal model and 4 virtual nasal polyp models based on polyp locations, including the olfactory region (all‐olfactory model), the region anterior to the olfactory region (preolfactory model), the middle meatus (middle‐meatus model), and the superior meatus (superior‐meatus model). Various airflow parameters were compared between these models and a normal model without polyps. We then performed a similar comparison between the 3‐dimensional (3D) reconstruction models of patients with nasal polyps, and retrospectively investigated the correlation between olfaction and nasal polyp location in those patients. Results Virtual nasal polyp analysis revealed dispersion of olfactory airflow in the all‐olfactory model. Olfactory airflow and odorant transport showed maximum decrease in the preolfactory model and a slight decrease in the superior‐meatus model. Olfactory airflow by polyps was further decreased by blockade of the olfactory airflow inlet than of the outlet. The findings obtained by patients corresponded well to those of the virtual polyp analysis. Conclusion Olfactory airflow and olfaction are differentially affected by nasal polyp location. This finding is important for planning polyp‐removal surgeries from the perspective of improving patient olfaction.