Inferior turbinate hypertrophy

Inferior turbinate hypertrophy is one of many causes of nasal obstruction and can be a contributing factor to obstructive sleep apnea.

Pathology

Etiology

• allergic rhinitis (most common)
• vasomotor rhinitis
• drug-induced rhinitis

Treatment and prognosis

Pharmacological treatment (e.g. topical nasal decongestant) is first-line and if this fails then partial turbinectomy or inferior turbinate reduction (with, for example, electrocautery, radiofrequency ablation) can be performed .

Practical points

Assessing for other or contributing factors to nasal obstruction such as :

• nasal septal deviation (can contribute to contralateral inferior turbinate hypertrophy )
• sinonasal polyposis
• adenoid hypertrophy