Nontraumatic nasal septal abscesses in the immunocompromised: Etiology, recognition, treatment, and sequelae

Proper management of a nasal septal abscess requires prompt diagnosis, adeq uate surgical drainage, and antibiotics to pre vent the potentially dangero us spread of infection and the development of severe functional and cosmeti c sequelae. Most septal abscesses are the result of trauma to the nose with septal hematoma and subsequent infection. We present our experience,with n asal septal abscesses in five immunocompromised patients without history of nasal trauma. All patients were treated with surgical drainage and antibio tics. The infections in four patients resolved, whereas in the fifth, the i nfection led to death. We report these cases to depict alternate etiologies of nasal septal abcess, particularly in the immunocompromised patient. Our review illustrates the wide spectrum of disease presentation provides trea tment strategies, and emphasizes the potentially catastrophic sequelae of t his disease when unrecognized. With the growing number of immunocompromised individuals, it is important to recognize the potential for immunocompromi se to influence the development of septal abscess.