Pneumatization of the concha inferior as a cause of nasal obstruction

Chronic nasal obstruction is a common disorder. Hypertrophy of the inferior turbinates is responsible for nasal obstruction more frequently than it is commonly thought. A pneumatized inferior turbinate has recently been descr ibed as a cause for nasal obstruction and only two cases have been reported until now. Inferior nasal turbinate develops by endochondral ossification of components of the mesethmoid and ectethmoid. The chondral framework of t he inferior turbinate consists of a double lamella and two separate ossific ation centers that develop between the fifth and seventh month of fetal lif e. The separate ossification centers meet by the eighth fetal month. During ossification, the inferior turbinate detaches from the ectethmoid and beco mes an independent bony structure. During that time the epithelium may misi nvaginate into double lamellas and such double lamellas formed by the infer ior turbinate may become persistent. A patient was referred to our clinic with headaches and nasal obstruction. A CT scan was performed which showed that the right lower concha was pneuma tized. The headache of the patient disappeared after partial resection of t he the lower and middle turbinate.