New tool diagnoses nasal obstruction.

A diagnostic technique that produces an accurate and detailed map of nasal passages allows physicians at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas to determine the best treatment for a common problem -- a stuffy nose. Ear, nose, and throat specialists in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology are using the Acoustic Rhinometry System to evaluate patients who have difficulty breathing because of nasal blockage.

"The rhinometer is a painless way to help us determine more quickly and accurately than before the degree and cause of nasal obstruction," explains Richard Mabry, a professor of otorhinolaryngology who specializes in treatment of the nose and allergies. "It is a tool that saves us from wasting time because it immediately identifies whether medical treatment appears likely to work or whether surgery is needed."

A normal nose has two narrow areas, but infections, allergies, and structural deformities often cause obstruction elsewhere. These structural and mucosal problems can be more than a nuisance; they can cause discomfort that interferes with a normal lifestyle.

Acoustic rhinometry, which Mabry describes as an ultrasound exam of the nose, is fast and painless. A computer sends in sound waves via a tube placed at the nostril. A microphone picks up the reflected waves, and...