[The role of concha bullosa in nasal pathologies].
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the relationship between the size of concha bullosa (CB) detected by coronal paranasal sinus computed tomography (CT) and the frequency of sinonasal symptoms.


METHODS
The study included 60 patients (39 females, 21 males; mean age 38.3 years; range 17 to 67 years) who had CB on CT scans and underwent endoscopic sinus surgery for symptoms of chronic sinusitis, nasal obstruction and/or headache. The patients were evaluated in three groups according to the ratio of the cross-section area of CB to that of the nasal cavity (NC); hence, group 1, 0-14%; group 2, 15-29%; and group 3, = or >30%. The relationship of CB/NC with clinical symptoms and nasal pathologies were examined.


RESULTS
The presenting complaints were sinusitis in 28 (46.7%), nasal obstruction in 56 (93.3%), and headache in 36 (60%) patients. Concha bullosa was on the right side in 16 (26.7%), on the left side in 13 (21.7%), and bilateral in 31 patients (51.7%). Of 91 CB, 29 (31.9%) were in group 1, 43 (47.3%) were in group 2, and 19 (20.9%) were in group 3. The cross-section area of CB was greater than 1 cm2 in 25.6%, and less than 0.5 cm2 in 53.4%. The most common pathology accompanying CB was nasal septal deviation (n=36, 60%). The distribution of symptoms and accompanying pathologies was similar in the three groups.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings show that symptoms and accompanying pathologies do not differ in patients with varying sizes of CB.
Paksoy
Mustafa
M
Department of Otolaryngology, Dr. Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. opdrmustafapaksoy@yahoo.com.
Sanli
Arif
A
Evren
Cenk
C
Kayhan
Fatma Tülin
FT
Bozkurt
Ziya
Z
Aydin
Sedat
S
Hardal
Umit
U
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015508:Nasal Obstruction / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D010256:Paranasal Sinuses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014420:Turbinates / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult