Pneumatization of turbinates

OBJECTIVES: To present unusual computed tomography (CT) findings concerning huge pneumatization of turbinates and paranasal sinuses in one patient. In current world literature the authors only found nine reports of pneumatization of inferior turbinates, which, therefore, must be considered an extremely rare anatomical finding. STUDY DESIGN: Case report and literature review. METHODS: Computed tomography findings in a 35-year-old white woman with nasal obstruction are presented; and the authors describe this additional case of pneumatization of an inferior turbinate, as well as other variants. The literature and nomenclature are reviewed. RESULTS: Besides the rare anatomical finding of a pneumatized inferior turbinate, in addition, both patient middle and superior turbinates were pneumatized bilaterally. Frontal and sphenoid sinuses were huge, with pneumatization of the crista galli and the posterior parts of the septum. The floor of the orbit presented with an orbitoethmoid (Haller) cell on one side. Thus, five of the six turbinates present were pneumatized. To the authors' knowledge, no other case of such extreme pneumatization has been published in world literature to date. CONCLUSIONS: Whereas pneumatization of the ethmoturbinals is a frequent finding on sinus computed tomography scans, pneumatization of the maxilloturbinal remains an extremely rare anatomical variant. Pneumatization of ethmoid cells and secondary sinuses is considered an active achievement of nasal and sinus mucosa during fetal development and adolescence. The underlying mechanisms of this process are not yet understood. The inferior turbinate is the least likely to present with pneumatization. In clinical practice, the pneumatization status should well be studied on the scans before any sinus and turbinate surgery is undertaken.     

Middle turbinate osteoma

Osteoma is the most common benign tumor of the paranasal sinuses. Turbinate osteomas are very rare and only four middle turbinate, one superior turbinate and one inferior turbinate osteoma cases have been reported. We present a rare case of osteoma of the left middle turbinate in a patient presented with unilateral nasal obstruction and epiphora that was removed endoscopically, and conduct a literature review on turbinate osteomas arising from different turbinates, their symptoms and management.     

单侧下鼻甲肥大鼻腔气流流体力学分析

目的：建立单侧下鼻甲肥大鼻腔平静呼吸下的计算机流体力学（CFD）模型,观察肥大的下鼻甲对鼻腔解剖结构的影响,比较吸气和呼气状态下双侧鼻腔气流的流体动力学。方法：将单侧下鼻甲肥大性鼻腔志愿者的鼻部CT通过三维重建软件Simplant 10．0及ANSYS ICEM重建得到CFD模型,运用流体分析软件Fluent 6．3．26计算获得双鼻总流量为200ml／s时的鼻腔全流场数据。结果：①下鼻甲肥大侧鼻腔冠状位面积在下鼻甲区域小于正常侧,两者平均差异为1．62cm^2。②平静呼吸时下鼻甲肥大侧鼻腔压降主要产生于下鼻甲区域,占总压降的2／3;呼气及吸气时流量均约为50ml,相当于正常侧鼻腔流量的1／3;吸气相时下鼻甲肥大侧鼻腔气流平均流速在鼻瓣区为0．57m／s,小于正常侧的1．83m／s;下鼻甲肥大侧鼻腔气流的涡流形成少于健侧。结论：肥大的下鼻甲改变了鼻腔正常解剖结构,影响了患侧鼻腔的气流流动状态,对患侧鼻腔的通气、温度调节及嗅觉功能造成影响。     

Unilateral inferior turbinate agenesis: a case report

Many common anatomic variations in the nasal cavity have been observed, including paradoxical turbinates and pneumatization of the inferior, middle, and superior turbinates. We describe a case of a rare anomaly-unilateral inferior turbinate agenesis-in a 65-year-old man who had presented with epistaxis. During evaluation, anterior rhinoscopic examination revealed the absence of the right inferior turbinate; this finding was confirmed on computed tomography. The patient had never undergone nasal or sinus surgery, and he denied ever having expelled anything of significance from his nasal cavity. This case merits attention because of the rarity of reports on turbinate agenesis.     

Pneumatization of the inferior turbinate

Pneumatization of the inferior turbinate is an extremely rare intranasal anatomical variation. Only a few cases have been reported yet. In this paper we present two cases, one unilateral and one bilateral case with pneumatization of the inferior turbinate.     

Radiofrequency energy tissue ablation for the treatment of nasal obstruction secondary to turbinate hypertrophy.

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that the success rate of radiofrequency energy (RFe) tissue ablation of the inferior turbinate for nasal obstruction achieved by previous investigators would be improved by using a longer needle electrode and creating two lesions per turbinate. METHODS: Ten patients with nasal obstruction secondary to inferior turbinate hypertrophy were prospectively enrolled. A 40-mm needle delivered RFe to two sites in each inferior turbinate. Patients used a visual analog scale (VAS) to grade nasal obstruction preoperatively and at 1 week and 8 weeks after surgery. Preoperative and postoperative digital images of the nasal cavity were graded for obstruction (0% to 100%) in a blinded manner. RESULTS: All patients (100%) were subjectively improved at 8 weeks. Mean obstruction (VAS) improved from 50%+/-21% to 16%+/-15% (right side) and from 53%+/-29% to 13%+/-13% (left side). Mean improvements were 68% (right side) (P = .004) and 75% (left side) (P = .001). Mean obstruction graded during blinded review of nasal cavity images improved from 73.5%+/-8% to 51%+/-8% (right side) and from 76%+/-6% to 64%+/-7% (left side). Of nine patients using medications for nasal obstruction before treatment, eight (89%) noted no further need for medications at 8 weeks. CONCLUSION: The use of RFe for submucosal tissue ablation in the hypertrophied inferior turbinate is an effective modality for reducing symptoms of nasal obstruction. Improved results may occur by using a longer needle and creating two lesions per turbinate. Of patients in this study, 100% reported improvement of nasal obstruction.     

Radiofrequency is a safe and effective treatment of turbinate hypertrophy

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of radiofrequency for reduction of inferior turbinate volume. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective before-and-after trial. METHODS: Fourteen patients complaining of chronic nasal obstruction and failing to respond to medical treatment were prospectively enrolled. All patients presented with inferior turbinate hypertrophy and no septal deformity. Radiofrequency inferior turbinate tissue reduction with three punctures in each turbinate (mean energy/puncture: 342 +/- 36 J, mean duration: 69 +/- 17 s, plateau tissue temperature: 75 +/- 6.4 degrees C). Patients were evaluated before and on days 3, 7, and 60 after intervention. RESULTS: No postoperative pain or complications were reported. Evaluation of nasal obstruction, quantified by visual analogue scale, showed a significant decrease of day time and nighttime obstruction after surgery. Acoustic rhinometry measurements showed that turbinate hypertrophy was significantly reduced in the sitting and supine positions on day 60 after surgery. Saccharin transit times decreased significantly on day 60 compared with preoperative measurements. Ciliary beat frequency, measured in vitro in nasal epithelial cells sampled from the inferior turbinate by brushing, was not significantly different before surgery and on day 60 after surgery. In the same samples, ciliated cells were the most abundant epithelial cell type before and after surgery, although in five cases, moderate numbers of squamous cells were detected on either day 7 or day 60 after surgery. CONCLUSION: Radiofrequency is a safe surgical procedure capable of reducing turbinate volume without altering the nasal mucosa, and causing minimal discomfort for the patient.     

Trifurcate middle turbinate; an unusual anatomical variation

Anatomical variations of supernumerary middle turbinates include a secondary middle turbinate, which is a bony projection arising from the lateral nasal wall and covered by soft tissue, and an accessory middle turbinate, which is a medially bent uncinate process. Although pneumatization of the middle turbinate is common, inferior turbinate pneumatization is very rare. We report what we believe is the first case of a middle turbinate split into three divisions, i.e. trifurcated. This co-existed with a pneumatized inferior turbinate.     

鼻内镜下鼻甲成形术疗效分析

目的分析鼻内镜不同下鼻甲成形术的疗效。方法将138例患者随机分为两组,所有患者均同时接受双侧下鼻甲的同一术式处理。A组72例,行双侧下鼻甲骨黏骨膜下骨质部分切除术;B组66例,行双侧下鼻甲骨折外移术。比较两组患者术后1、6及12个月的恢复以及疗效情况。结果两组患者术后12个月疗效具有统计学意义(P<0.01);两组鼻阻塞视觉模拟评分术后6、12个月比较,差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）,鼻阻力检测术后12个月比较差异具有统计学意义（P<0.05）。A组远期疗效优于B组。结论两种术式都保留了下鼻甲的黏膜以及舒缩功能的血窦组织,在进行有效减容的同时,保留下鼻甲正常的功能, 但从远期效果来看,下鼻甲前端黏骨膜下入路骨部分切除术的疗效明显好于下鼻甲骨折外移术,对于下鼻甲黏膜下组织增生或（和）下鼻甲骨质增生所引起的鼻阻塞均有良好的效果,值得适当放宽手术适应证。     

低温等离子消融术与下鼻甲成形术治疗慢性鼻炎的对比研究

目的 通过研究低温等离子消融术与下鼻甲成形术术后患者鼻塞改善情况和对鼻腔黏膜纤毛功能的影响,探讨治疗慢性鼻炎更有效的方法。方法 选取慢性鼻炎患者40例,随机分为两组,分别行等离子消融术(A组)与下鼻甲成形术(B组)。术前,术后1周、1个月、3个月分别用VAS评分评价患者鼻腔症状。糖精试验评价术前及术后3个月患者鼻腔黏膜纤毛传送功能。结果 等离子组术中出血、手术时间较下鼻甲成形组明显减少,且术后并发症较少;术后3个月两组患者鼻塞均有明显改善;两种手术方式对鼻腔黏膜纤毛功能无影响。结论 对单纯黏膜肥厚的慢性鼻炎,等离子消融疗效显著;对鼻甲骨质肥厚或形态异常的慢性鼻炎,下鼻甲成形术效果好。     

Comparison of the effects of radiofrequency tissue ablation,CO2 laser ablation,and partial turbinectomy applications on nasal mucociliary functions

OBJECTIVES: One of the major causes of chronic nasal airway obstruction is disease of the inferior turbinate. However, there is no agreement on how to deal with this problem. Comparison was made of the nasal functions after treatment by radiofrequency tissue ablation, laser ablation, and partial turbinectomy using subjective symptom scores and objective tests. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized clinical trial. METHODS: The study was conducted on three groups of 45 adult volunteer patients with symptoms and signs of nasal obstruction and stuffiness related to enlarged turbinates. In group A, laser ablation was applied to the inferior turbinate on one side and partial turbinectomy to the inferior turbinate on the other side. In group B, radiofrequency tissue ablation was applied to the inferior turbinate on one side and partial turbinectomy to the inferior turbinate on the other side. In group C, patients who were not treated by any surgical techniques were the control subjects. Clinical examinations, visual analogue scales, rhinomanometry, and isotopic study of nasal mucociliary transport time were used to assess treatment outcomes. RESULTS: At 12 weeks after surgery, the nasal mucociliary transport time results were compared in the same patients. The average time was 25.60 minutes on the side where laser ablation was applied and 11.40 minutes on the side where partial turbinectomy (PT) was applied. In the patients on whom radiofrequency tissue ablation and partial turbinectomy were applied, the average nasal mucociliary transport time was 10.33 minutes on the radiofrequency tissue ablation side, whereas it was 11.33 minutes on the partial turbinectomy side. Rhinomanometric measurements demonstrated a significant decrease in nasal resistances at 12 weeks in both sides in groups A and B. CONCLUSIONS: In the study it was demonstrated that radiofrequency tissue ablation to the turbinate is effective in improving nasal obstruction objectively and in preserving nasal mucociliary function. Laser ablation of the turbinate is effective in improving the nasal obstruction; however, it disturbs the mucociliary function significantly. With the partial turbinectomy technique, results obtained were similar to the results with the radiofrequency tissue ablation technique.     

鼻中隔偏曲患者双侧下鼻甲的影像学和病理学观察

目的：观察鼻中隔偏曲患者双侧下鼻甲的形态结构及其黏膜的病理改变。方法：为住院行手术治疗鼻中隔偏曲患者30例行术前鼻窦冠状位CT扫描，在CT片上直接测量下鼻甲的宽度和高度，将测量数值根据CT片上的标尺换算成实际值。手术全麻后、鼻腔表麻前，在鼻内镜下，于鼻中隔明显偏曲处对称切取下鼻甲组织，在光镜、透射电镜下观察下鼻甲的黏膜上皮层及固有层组织结构的改变。结果：从30例鼻中隔偏曲患者的鼻窦CT中观察到，偏曲对侧下鼻甲的高度和宽度均大于同侧，差别有统计学意义。光镜结果：偏曲对侧下鼻甲较同侧黏膜上皮、基底膜增厚，血管增生，纤维组织增生，腺体密度同侧较对侧减小。电镜结果：偏曲对侧较同侧的下鼻甲黏膜固有层的结缔组织胶原纤维增生明显；黏膜固有层毛细血管及腺体周围毛细血管的内膜具有窗格样空隙，小静脉内皮基底膜变透明，间隙增大，肿胀样，结构疏松。结论：在鼻中隔偏曲患者中，偏曲两侧的下鼻甲在宽度和高度上差异有统计学意义。偏曲对侧下鼻甲的肥大，既有骨质增生的成分，也有黏膜及黏膜下层组织增生的因素。     

Inferior turbinate schwannoma: report of a case

Schwannomas of the nasal cavity are extremely rare. We evaluated a 42-year-old woman who presented with a 4-year history of slowly progressive nasal obstruction. The cause of the obstruction was identified as a schwannoma in the left inferior turbinate. The tumor was completely excised, and no sign of recurrence was evident at the 1-year follow-up. To the best of our knowledge, this is only the third case of a schwannoma originating in the inferior nasal turbinate that has been reported in the English-language literature. We review the clinical and pathologic features of this case.     

Pleomorphic adenoma originated from the inferior nasal turbinate

Although pleomorphic adenoma is the most common benign neoplasm of the salivary glands, it has also been reported to be present in the neck, ear, mediastinum, external nose and nasal cavity. Intranasal localization of this lesion is very rare and mainly originates from the nasal septum. From wherever the lesion originates, the main treatment modality should be surgical. We presented a very rare case of intranasal pleomorphic adenoma originated from the inferior nasal turbinate. Due to the expansile nature of the lesion, a midfacial degloving approach was preferred.     

Radiofrequency turbinate reduction: a NOSE evaluation

BACKGROUND: The symptoms and treatments for nasal obstruction are numerous and common. Yet, a consensus on a surgical approach or, even more importantly, how to define the success of any approach is lacking in the literature. A disease-specific outcomes instrument recently developed by the American Academy of Otolaryngology, known as the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) scale, has allowed for a validated, uniform method to compare different treatments for nasal obstruction. METHODS: Using the NOSE scale, we prospectively compared the use of bilateral radiofrequency inferior turbinate reduction (BRITR) only with that of BRITR with septoplasty in the treatment of nasal obstruction caused by the combination of septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy. NOSE scores were obtained pretreatment and at 3 month and 6 month follow-up. RESULTS: Our data demonstrated significant improvement from baseline after 6 months for the NOSE scores in both the BRITR (P < .001) and BRITR/septoplasty groups (P = .023). No statistical difference was noted in the amount of postoperative improvement between the two treatment groups (P = .304). Both groups did demonstrate a large, clinically important effect using a distribution-based assessment of clinical change. Despite equal clinically effective results, estimated costs for each treatment option differed significantly, with the office-based BRITR only group providing significant cost savings compared with the hospital-based BRITR/septoplasty group. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that BRITR should be considered as an initial treatment option for nasal obstruction rather than a septoplasty with turbinate reduction in patients with the clinical findings of both a septal deviation and turbinate hypertrophy after failure of medical therapy.     

Early clinical outcomes of ınferior turbinate radiofrequency and lateralization combined with septoplasty

IntroductionMechanical obstruction is the most common form of nasal obstruction. Among the types of mechanical obstructions, septum deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy are the most prevalent.ObjectiveThis study evaluated the early clinical outcomes of inferior turbinate radiofrequency and inferior turbinate lateralization combined with septoplasty in the treatment of nasal obstruction symptoms.MethodsThe research retrospectively evaluated data from 33 patients (24 male, nine female) undergoing septoplasty and inferior turbinate radiofrequency (RF group) and 32 patients (24 male, eight female) treated with septoplasty and inferior turbinate lateralization (LAT group), who were admitted, with complaints of nasal obstruction, to the University of Health Sciences, Department of Otorhinolaryngology, between January 1, 2017 and January 1, 2018. The patients’ preoperative and 6-month postoperative symptoms were evaluated via the Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation, the NOSE scale.ResultsThe mean preoperative NOSE scores were 10.3 ± 4.2 in the RF group and 10.9 ± 4.9 in the LAT group, and the mean six-month postoperative scores were 1.09 ± 1.3 in the RF group and 1.2 ± 1.3 in the LAT group. There was no significant difference in NOSE scores between the two groups (p > 0.05).ConclusionThe data obtained in this study show that both methods result in similar outcomes in terms of relieving nasal obstruction symptoms in patients requiring inferior turbinate intervention. Therefore, the researchers believe that, in each case, the intervention method should be selected at the discretion of the patient and surgeon(s).     

Pneumatization of the concha inferior as a cause of nasal obstruction

Chronic nasal obstruction is a common disorder. Hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates is responsible for nasal obstruction more frequently than it is commonly thought. A pneumatized inferior turbinate has recently been described as a cause for nasal obstruction and only two cases have been reported until now. Inferior nasal turbinate develops by endochondral ossification of components of the mesethmoid and ectethmoid. The chondral framework of the inferior turbinate consists of a double lamella and two separate ossification centers that develop between the fifth and seventh month of fetal life. The separate ossification centers meet by the eighth fetal month. During ossification, the inferior turbinate detaches from the ectethmoid and becomes an independent bony structure. During that time the epithelium may misinvaginate into double lamellas and such double lamellas formed by the inferior turbinate may become persistent. A patient was referred to our clinic with headaches and nasal obstruction. A CT scan was performed which showed that the right lower concha was pneumatized. The headache of the patient disappeared after partial resection of the lower and middle turbinate.     

A randomised trial comparing the subjective outcomes following septoplasty with or without inferior turbinoplasty

AimsThe surgical management of contralateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy in patients with deviated nasal septum is controversial. In this randomised clinical trial, we aimed to investigate the subjective improvement of nasal symptoms postoperatively in patients undergoing septoplasty with or without inferior turbinoplasty.Material and methodsOne hundred and thirty-seven patients with nasal obstruction, who had unilateral septal deviation and compensatory contralateral inferior turbinate enlargement, were randomised into either septoplasty alone arm (n = 66) or septoplasty combined with turbinoplasty arm (n = 71). Preoperative symptom scores and the subjective perception of the nasal obstruction were compared between two groups of the study using Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation Scale (NOSE) and Visual analog scale (VAS) respectively. The measurements were repeated 6 months after surgery as well as at 1, 2, and 4 years postoperatively.ResultsWith regard to the findings obtained from both scales, both interventions successfully relieved the patients’ complaints of nasal obstruction at almost all postoperative visits when compared with the baseline measurements (P ˂ 0.005 for most comparisons). However, the relief of nasal obstruction was more pronounced in patients undergoing combined intervention at all postoperative visits, except at the 1st follow-up session (P ˂ 0.005). Nasal symptoms of septoplasty alone group began to deteriorate over the period between month 24 and month 48. In contrast, patients undergoing the combined surgery steadily showed symptomatic improvement over the whole period of study.ConclusionsA turbinate reduction surgery should be conducted along with septoplasty to achieve better results in cases suffering from deviated nasal septum with concomitant hypertrophied inferior turbinate.     

Paradoxical giant inferior concha

Anatomic variations of the middle and superior conchae are common, but inferior concha anomalies are rare. These anomalies have included pneumatization, agenesis, and duplication. We describe what we believe is the first reported case of a paradoxical curvature of the bony part of the inferior concha. The patient was a 13-year-old girl. The development of a huge inferior concha blocked the left nasal cavity and deviated the nasal septum to the contralateral side, resulting in bilateral obstruction. The patient was successfully treated with surgery.     

下鼻甲肥大对功能性溢泪影响的分析

目的探讨下鼻甲肥大与功能性溢泪的关系及临床治疗价值。方法 11例下鼻甲肥大伴溢泪患者中,7例同时伴鼻中隔偏曲,术前完善检查,并利用CT泪囊造影术和三维重建,排除溢泪的眼部疾病,行下鼻甲减容术伴或不伴鼻中隔偏曲矫正术,观察疗效。术后随访12个月。结果 11例患者中8例(72.7%)溢泪症状消失,3例(27.3%)溢泪症状好转。7例患者术后鼻中隔均居中,下鼻甲明显缩小。其中鼻塞痊愈10例(90.9%),好转1例(9.1%)。结论下鼻甲肥大为功能性溢泪的一个重要的原因,对其进行治疗可治愈或改善功能性溢泪。