What is nasal turbinate?

 

The nasal turbinate, in anatomy, is a long and narrow bone that create breathing passage of the nose and help to cleanse and humidify air. Most people have three turbinates including the superior (upper), middle, and inferior (lower) turbinates.

 

 

 

Causes of turbinate hypertrophy

 

The turbinate hypertrophy indicates the enlargement or swelling condition of the bone itself or the soft tissue of the turbinates. When they become inflamed, the nasal blockade occurs, either with unilateral or bilateral symptoms. Other common causes include chronic sinus inflammation, environmental irritants and seasonal allergies.

 

 

 

Signs and Symptoms

 

Most patients suffering from the turbinate hypertrophy describe this symptom as a sensation of difficulty breathing. Some additional symptoms, including but not limited to, snoring, runny nose, prolonged nasal congestion, altered sense of smell, difficulty sleeping, mild facial pain, and dry mouth upon awakening.

The pathological enlargement of inferior nasal turbinates contributes to sleep-disordered breathing in children.

 

 

 

Diagnosis and Treatment

 

The symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy are similar to those of a cold and sometimes can shrink by reducing the amount of allergy-causing dust.

If the turbinate disorders need to be corrected, doctors may first do nasal endoscopy to identify whether the problem relates to turbinate hypertrophy. Patients can take medications or nasal sprays can temporarily relieve nasal swelling. If the symptoms don’t respond to conservative treatment, your ENT doctor will recommend surgical approaches, with high success rate, to reduce the turbinate hypertrophy. There are three common approaches under the subject:

1. Inferior turbinate bone resection (ITBR) by removing a portion of bone of the inferior turbinates to promote airflow in the nose.
2. Partial inferior turbinectomy (PIT) by removing soft tissue of the inferior turbinate.
3. Submucosal diathermy (SMD) by using a diathermy needle to apply heat energy to shrink the soft tissue inside the turbinates.

 

*The above information is for reference only, please consult your doctor for detail.