What is a paradoxical middle turbinate?
What is a paradoxical middle turbinate?
Paradoxical middle turbinate is a rare developmental cause of nasal obstruction. It refers to an inferomedially curved middle turbinate edge with the concave surface facing the nasal septum and usually occurs bilaterally.
What does the middle turbinate do?
Middle turbinate is an important landmark which forms the medial wall of the ethmoid sinus. It is associated with many functions of the nasal cavity, including humidification, lubrication of the upper airways, regulation of airflow and temperature, olfaction and filtration 1.
Are enlarged turbinates genetic?
Turbinate hypertrophy itself isn’t genetic, although it occurs more frequently in individuals with a family history of allergic rhinitis (hay fever).
Is turbinate hypertrophy reversible?
Causes of Turbinate Hypertrophy Enlarged turbinates is a reversible condition in most cases. However, allergic reactions, chronic inflammation, and exposure to irritants can cause ongoing turbinate swelling or turbinate hypertrophy. This condition causes it to become more difficult to breathe through the nose.
Can you remove turbinates?
Surgical removal of underlying bone or tissue surrounding the turbinates is usually reserved for more serious cases of turbinate enlargement. It’s often done during a septoplasty. A septoplasty also involves cutting into the nasal cavity to correct a deviated septum.
Why does turbinate hypotrophy cause nasal obstruction?
Turbinate hypotrophy, or nasal conchae, is the exaggerated increase in the volume of the turbinates. These structures are in the nasal cavity and, when their size increases, air can’t flow normally. As a result, they tend to cause nasal obstruction.
What is the definition of paradoxical middle turbinate?
It refers to an inferomedially curved middle turbinate edge with the concave surface facing the nasal septum and usually occurs bilaterally. Paradoxical middle turbinate is a rarely encountered anomaly and can be easily recognized in CT paranasal sinuses but can be overlooked on endoscopic examination 3.
Why is the middle turbinate enlarged like a balloon?
Concha bullosa is a condition unique to the middle turbinates where the middle turbinate is filled with air and enlarged like a balloon. When this happens, the concha bullosa can block the flow of air to the maxillary sinus via a small passageway called the sinus ostium.
What are the symptoms of inferior turbinate hypertrophy?
However, when the inferior turbinates continually become inflamed, it is chronic and is referred to as turbinate hypertrophy. Some symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy include breathing difficulty and snoring because the swelling of the turbinate closes off airflow into the nose.