Comparison of Cottle-Area-2 and Cottle-Area-3 in Computed Tomography Scans of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Controls

<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Data that compare nasal Cottle-area-2 (i.e., nasal valve) and Cottle-area-3 are sparce. We intended to compare these areas in subjects with and without nasal obstruction. <b>Methods</b>: We compared cross-sectional areas, derived by computed tomo...

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Main Authors: Helen Heppt, Gerlig Widmann, Matthias Santer, Felix Riechelmann, Herbert Riechelmann, Aris I. Giotakis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/11/1321
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author Helen Heppt
Gerlig Widmann
Matthias Santer
Felix Riechelmann
Herbert Riechelmann
Aris I. Giotakis
author_facet Helen Heppt
Gerlig Widmann
Matthias Santer
Felix Riechelmann
Herbert Riechelmann
Aris I. Giotakis
author_sort Helen Heppt
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background/Objectives</b>: Data that compare nasal Cottle-area-2 (i.e., nasal valve) and Cottle-area-3 are sparce. We intended to compare these areas in subjects with and without nasal obstruction. <b>Methods</b>: We compared cross-sectional areas, derived by computed tomography, of Cottle-area-2 (CT-CSA<sub>COT-2</sub>) and Cottle-area-3 (CT-CSA<sub>COT-3</sub>), in cases planned for surgery due to chronic nasal obstruction and controls with trauma not involving the head. In these cases, we investigated the correlation of the size of narrow and wide sides with active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR). <b>Results</b>: In 56 cases, CT-CSA<sub>COT-2</sub> were 15% smaller than CT-CSA<sub>COT-3</sub> (all <i>p</i> < 0.007). However, both were similarly large in 56 controls (all <i>p</i> > 0.2). Both narrow sides of the CT-CSA<sub>COT-2</sub> and CT-CSA<sub>COT-3</sub> were significantly smaller in cases (69 ± 23 mm<sup>2</sup> and 79 ± 28 mm<sup>2</sup>, respectively) than in controls (91 ± 21 mm<sup>2</sup>; <i>p</i> < 0.001 and 93 ± 21 mm<sup>2</sup>; <i>p</i> = 0.004, respectively). However, only the size of the total nasal airway of CT-CSA<sub>COT-2</sub> was significantly smaller in cases (<i>p</i> < 0.001), not that of CT-CSA<sub>COT-3</sub> (<i>p</i> > 0.2). Correlations of AAR with CT were significant only on the narrow sides (all <i>p</i> < 0.037), but not on the wide sides (all <i>p</i> > 0.2). <b>Conclusions</b>: In contrast to Cottle-area-3, the total nasal airway of Cottle-area-2, i.e., nasal valve, was smaller in patients with nasal obstruction, the latter of which may not be easily identified before nasal surgical procedures.
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spelling doaj-art-98add7f461c94de78588f663efe62de42025-08-20T02:32:57ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-05-011511132110.3390/diagnostics15111321Comparison of Cottle-Area-2 and Cottle-Area-3 in Computed Tomography Scans of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and ControlsHelen Heppt0Gerlig Widmann1Matthias Santer2Felix Riechelmann3Herbert Riechelmann4Aris I. Giotakis5Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Radiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaDepartment of Otorhinolaryngology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria<b>Background/Objectives</b>: Data that compare nasal Cottle-area-2 (i.e., nasal valve) and Cottle-area-3 are sparce. We intended to compare these areas in subjects with and without nasal obstruction. <b>Methods</b>: We compared cross-sectional areas, derived by computed tomography, of Cottle-area-2 (CT-CSA<sub>COT-2</sub>) and Cottle-area-3 (CT-CSA<sub>COT-3</sub>), in cases planned for surgery due to chronic nasal obstruction and controls with trauma not involving the head. In these cases, we investigated the correlation of the size of narrow and wide sides with active anterior rhinomanometry (AAR). <b>Results</b>: In 56 cases, CT-CSA<sub>COT-2</sub> were 15% smaller than CT-CSA<sub>COT-3</sub> (all <i>p</i> < 0.007). However, both were similarly large in 56 controls (all <i>p</i> > 0.2). Both narrow sides of the CT-CSA<sub>COT-2</sub> and CT-CSA<sub>COT-3</sub> were significantly smaller in cases (69 ± 23 mm<sup>2</sup> and 79 ± 28 mm<sup>2</sup>, respectively) than in controls (91 ± 21 mm<sup>2</sup>; <i>p</i> < 0.001 and 93 ± 21 mm<sup>2</sup>; <i>p</i> = 0.004, respectively). However, only the size of the total nasal airway of CT-CSA<sub>COT-2</sub> was significantly smaller in cases (<i>p</i> < 0.001), not that of CT-CSA<sub>COT-3</sub> (<i>p</i> > 0.2). Correlations of AAR with CT were significant only on the narrow sides (all <i>p</i> < 0.037), but not on the wide sides (all <i>p</i> > 0.2). <b>Conclusions</b>: In contrast to Cottle-area-3, the total nasal airway of Cottle-area-2, i.e., nasal valve, was smaller in patients with nasal obstruction, the latter of which may not be easily identified before nasal surgical procedures.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/11/1321nasal patencynasal obstructioncomputed tomographycase-control studiescross-sectional anatomy
spellingShingle Helen Heppt
Gerlig Widmann
Matthias Santer
Felix Riechelmann
Herbert Riechelmann
Aris I. Giotakis
Comparison of Cottle-Area-2 and Cottle-Area-3 in Computed Tomography Scans of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Controls
Diagnostics
nasal patency
nasal obstruction
computed tomography
case-control studies
cross-sectional anatomy
title Comparison of Cottle-Area-2 and Cottle-Area-3 in Computed Tomography Scans of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Controls
title_full Comparison of Cottle-Area-2 and Cottle-Area-3 in Computed Tomography Scans of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Controls
title_fullStr Comparison of Cottle-Area-2 and Cottle-Area-3 in Computed Tomography Scans of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Controls
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of Cottle-Area-2 and Cottle-Area-3 in Computed Tomography Scans of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Controls
title_short Comparison of Cottle-Area-2 and Cottle-Area-3 in Computed Tomography Scans of Patients with Nasal Obstruction and Controls
title_sort comparison of cottle area 2 and cottle area 3 in computed tomography scans of patients with nasal obstruction and controls
topic nasal patency
nasal obstruction
computed tomography
case-control studies
cross-sectional anatomy
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/11/1321
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