Role of multislice computed tomography and local contrast in the diagnosis and characterization of choanal atresia

Unilateral Choanal Atresia in a Child With Prolonged Nasal Congestion

Choanal atresia obstructs the nasal passage due to abnormal bony or soft tissue remnants owing to the faulty canalization of the nasal passages during fetal development. The clinical manifestations are more pronounced in bilateral cases, often presenting immediately after birth with cyanosis turning pink when crying, as newborns are obligatory nasal breathers. This contrasts in unilateral cases, where the condition may present with mild symptoms and be diagnosed later in life. We present a case of a five-year-old male who initially presented with a concern for nasal polyps due to nasal congestion with absent airflow out of the right nostril. On examination of the pharynx and nose, the patient was diagnosed with nasal turbinate hypertrophy, the right more than the left, and was subsequently scheduled for bilateral inferior turbinate reduction, possible adenoidectomy, and nasal endoscopy. Intraoperatively, inspection with nasal endoscopy along with the inability to pass a catheter through the nasopharynx to reach the oropharynx was our indicator of a more severe diagnosis. Here, we report an incidental finding of the right choanal atresia and seek to highlight its importance given this incidental finding.

Evaluation of the factors affecting the necessity for revision surgery in choanal atresia

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to compare the effects of different surgical techniques for congenital choanal atresia (CCA), and particular emphasis is given to the analysis of the factors affecting the surgical outcome. The necessity for revision surgery and surgical outcomes were retrospectively investigated in patients undergoing revision surgery according to a recently proposed classification system.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

A retrospective study was conducted on patients operated for CCA between January 2007 and December 2018 at a university hospital. Data in the medical records, including patient age when the initial surgery was performed, gender, additional anomalies and medical conditions, the duration of gestation, side and type of atresia, type of surgery and need for revision surgery were reviewed.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients treated for CCA in our university hospital were screened. The mean follow-up duration was 82.16 months. Revision surgery was required in 9 of 26 cases, which are included in the study (34.6%). Fourteen patients presented with bilateral CCA, while 12 were unilateral cases. Sixteen patients (61.5%) had comorbid medical conditions. While the removal of vomer and mucoperiosteal flap use affects successful surgical repair, no differences were observed in choanal atresia type, laterality, use of stent and the presence of additional medical conditions.

CONCLUSION

The most important factors affecting surgical success for CCA are the removal of the vomer and closure of all bare bone tissues using a mucoperiosteal flap. Use of stents provides no additional benefit, apart from preventing synechiae formation.

Nasal Cavity CT Imaging Contribution to the Diagnosis and Treatment of Choanal Atresia

Background and Objectives: Choanal atresia is the most common congenital malformation of the nose. Materials and Methods: We have evaluated 24 CT images of children with choanal atresia treated at the Department of Pediatric Otorhinolaryngology FM CU and the NICD Bratislava (Slovakia). In accordance with the methodology used by Slovis et al. (1985), we have measured parameters related to anomalous development in the nasal cavity: vomer width, the width of soft atresia and the width of the air space of unilaterally developed choana. Results: In the group of 24 patients, 11 (46%) were male and 13 (54%) were female. The age of patients at the time of CT imaging varied. Associated syndromes had been manifested in 11 (46%) children, with 7 (29%) patients having CHARGE syndrome. In 13 (54%) cases it was a bone membranous type of atresia, in 8 (33%) cases a membranous type, and in 3 (13%) patients a bone type. Among the group of patients, unilateral disorder was present in 13 (54%) patients and bilateral in 11 (46%). Based on the Pearson’s correlation test, we have found in the studied group that the width of the vomer correlates with age, and the vomer is wider in bone atresia than in the membranous ones. Based on determining the average vomer’s width within the age groups 0–8 and >8–20, compared to the standard widths, we found that the vomer’s widths reached the upper limits of the standard ±2 SD (cm) or even exceeded that limit. The same applies to the width in soft choanal atresia. On the other hand, the width of the developed choana in the case of unilateral atresia is almost standard. Conclusions: The above findings are the basis for selecting the appropriate type of surgery. Currently, the gold standard is the endoscopic fenestration. associated with posterior septotomy.

Are computed tomography 3D measurements of the upper airways in mouth-breathing children in agreement with the ENT clinical diagnosis of obstruction?

Introduction

Imaging studies have hystorically been used to support the clinical otorhinolaryngological evaluation of the upper respiratory tract for the diagnosis of obstructive causes of oral breathing.

Objective

The objective of this study was to compare 3D volumetric measurements of nasal cavity, nasopharynx and oropharynx of obstructed mouth-breathing children with measurements of non-obstructed mouth-breathing children.

Methods

This retrospective study included 25 mouth-breathing children aged 5–9 years evaluated by otorhinolaryngological clinical examination, flexible nasoendoscopy and full-head multi-slice computed tomography. Tomographic volumetric measurements and dichotomic otorhinolaryngological diagnosis (obstructed vs. non-obstructed) in three anatomical regions (the nasal cavity, nasopharynx and oropharynx) were compared and correlated. An independent sample t-test was used to assess the association between the 3D measurements of the upper airways and the otorhinolaryngological diagnosis of obstruction in the three anatomical regions. Inter- and intra-observer intraclass correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the reliability of the 3D measurements.

Results

The intra-class correlation coefficients ranged from 0.97 to 0.99. An association was found between turbinate hypertrophy and nasal cavity volume reduction (p < 0.05) and between adenoid hyperplasia and nasopharynx volume reduction (p < 0.001). No association was found between palatine tonsil hyperplasia and oropharynx volume reduction.

Conclusions

(1) The nasal cavity volume was reduced when hypertrophic turbinates were diagnosed; (2) the nasopharynx was reduced when adenoid hyperplasia was diagnosed; and (3) the oropharynx volume of mouth-breathing children with tonsil hyperplasia was similar to that of non-obstructed mouth-breathing children. The adoption of the actual anatomy of the various compartments of the upper airway is an improvement to the evaluation method.

Nasal region dimensions in children: a CT study and clinical implications

Atresias of nasal cavity, especially in young children, pose an essential problem in children's otolaryngology. Only a few morphometric studies of nasal cavity concerning healthy neonates and young infants without nasal stenosis are available. Multislice computed tomography is a perfect tool enabling a precise evaluation of anatomic structures. The aim of this study was a complex morphometric evaluation of clinically important bone and mucosal structures of nasal cavity and examination of their dependence on age and sex in children up to 3 years of age. 180 children, age range 0–3 years, were divided into 5 age groups, and measurements of 18 distances between skeletal structures and between mucosal structures of nasal cavity were performed on their CT scans. A correlation between the widths of selected bone structures was examined. There were no statistically significant differences in analyzed morphometric parameters between adjacent age groups. The differences were statistically significant only between extreme age groups. There was a correlation between evaluated structures and age. Our results are a valuable supplement of nasal cavity morphometric data of young children. They may be useful in setting reference values of evaluated parameters in children and in diagnosis and planning of surgical treatment in children's otolaryngology.

Conservative management of bilateral choanal atresia? Bilateral choanal atresia diagnosed in a 5-year-old girl

Choanal atresia (CA) is an obliteration or blockage of the posterior nasal aperture, limiting or obstructing the nasal airway to the nasopharynx. The presentation of unilateral CA commonly occurs at a later age than those children affected by bilateral CA (BCA) and can often persist undiagnosed into adulthood. BCA, on the other hand, typically presents with respiratory obstruction within the first few days of life, or desaturations with or without cyanosis when feeding or during exertion and traditional teaching is that this is a life-threatening emergency. We present the case of a 5-year-old girl referred to our department with nasal obstruction, snoring and some mild rhinorrhoea. After investigation she was found to have a mixed bony and membranous BCA and no other craniofacial abnormalities. The BCA was subsequently repaired using urethral dilators and a drill and the child is currently asymptomatic of any restenosis. This case prompts discussion of the various presentations and options in management of CA as well as allowing us an opportunity to discuss the literature on the subject.