title: Imaging prevalence of nasal septal perforation in an urban population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of nasal septal perforation (NSP) on CT imaging in an urban hospital setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  Facial bone CT scans from 3708 consecutive patients were reviewed for the presence of NSP. Size of the perforation was measured in two dimensions. Medical records were reviewed for possible risk factors.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of NSP was 2.05%. The most common risk factor was a history of drug abuse. Cocaine was the most prevalent drug used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of NSP was more than double of that previously published, likely related to intranasal drug use in our urban population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Lincoln Medical Center, 234 E. 149th St, Bronx, NY 10451, United States. Electronic address: menachem.gold@nychhc.org.
authors.forename: Menachem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gold
authors.affiliation: Dept of Radiology, Maimonides Medical Center, 4802 10th Ave, Brooklyn, NY 11219, United States. Electronic address: isaacboyack@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Issac
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Boyack
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Lincoln Medical Center, 234 E. 149th St, Bronx, NY 10451, United States. Electronic address: Nicholas.Caputo@nychhc.org.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Caputo
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Lincoln Medical Center, 234 E. 149th St, Bronx, NY 10451, United States. Electronic address: Aaron.Pearlman@nychhc.org.
authors.forename: Aaron
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pearlman
mesh_terms: D000281:Administration, Intranasal; D000328:Adult; D003042:Cocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D003932:Heroin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061270:Nasal Septal Perforation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D009300:Nasal Septum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D003932:Heroin; D003042:Cocaine
keywords: CT imaging; Nasal septal perforation