Turbinate Hypertrophy…
is when there is excessive growth or enlargement of the turbinates, the bony structures located inside the nose.
Turbinate Hypertrophy
WHAT is Turbinate Hypertrophy?
There are three sets of turbinates inside your naval cavity: the superior turbinates, the middle turbinates, and the inferior turbinates. Most of the airflow in the nose passes between the middle and inferior turbinates. These long, narrow turbinate passageways are covered with mucosa, which is a special skin that helps to filter, warm and moisten the air that you breathe. During the normal nasal cycle and when you lie down, the mucosa naturally swells. The mucosa that surrounds the turbinates also swell in response to allergens and other stimuli.
When the mucosa enlarges excessively, and the tissue on the outside walls of the nose becomes too large, it can cause nasal obstruction. It becomes difficult to breathe through the nose and this condition is known as turbinate hypertrophy.
Types of Turbinate Hypertrophy
There are three descriptions for when the turbinates have become severely enlarged and they include turbinate hypertrophy, inferior turbinate hypertrophy, and nasal turbinate hypertrophy.
All three are descriptions of this similar condition that can result in difficulty breathing through the nose. Turbinate hypertrophy can be an acute, one time event, or it can be a chronic, ongoing problem.
WHAT can cause turbinate hypertrophy?
Turbinate hypertrophy can be caused by many other conditions including:
• Upper respiratory infections
• The common cold
• Acute sinus infection
• Allergic rhinitis
• Non-allergic rhinitis
• Chronic rhinosinusitis
• Congenital factors
• Medications
• Pregnancy and hormonal changes
•. Cigarette smoke and other irritants
• Natural aging process
DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT OF turbinate hypertrophy
Turbinate Hypertrophy Symptoms
The symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy are very similar to a cold; however, it seems like the cold just won’t go away. Turbinate hypertrophy symptoms are usually very similar to those of a septal deviation diagnosis.
The most common symptoms include:
• Difficulty breathing
• Congestion in alternating sides of the nose
• Nasal stuffiness
• Nasal blockage
• Forehead pressure
• Mild facial pain
• Nasal congestion while lying down
• Altered sense of smell
• Noisy breathing
• Dry mouth from breathing
• Increased or prolonged nasal drainage
• Snoring
The symptoms of untreated turbinate hypertrophy will often tend to worsen. It may become more and more difficult to breathe through the nose, making it harder to get a restful night’s sleep. A person may suffer more often from painful sinus infections, making it difficult to be productive in school or work, and impacting one’s overall quality of life.
How is Turbinate Hypertrophy diagnosed?
A diagnosis of Turbinate Hypertrophy begins with a detailed discussion of your symptoms, followed by a comprehensive physical examination at our office.
The doctor may insert a lighted endoscope into the nasal cavity to more closely examine the area, and determine whether or not your turbinates and or the mucosa are swollen.
When necessary, and to aid in your diagnosis, the doctor may have to order special imaging scans, such as a computed tomography (CT) scan. The CT scan can help to better visualize the inferior turbinates, confirm their abnormal enlargement, and identify whether the problem is turbinate hypertrophy or septal deviation, or both.
How is Turbinate Hypertrophy treated?
Medications may be prescribed to help manage the symptoms of turbinate hypertrophy. Nasal steroid sprays, nasal antihistamine sprays, oral decongestants and oral steroids can all help to reduce the swelling, target inflammation, and improve nasal breathing. Reducing any environmental allergens in the home can also help to manage or lessen the symptoms caused by turbinate hypertrophy.
If your symptoms continue to persist despite the use of medications, surgery may be necessary to reduce the size of your inferior turbinates. This surgical procedure can improve nasal breathing, minimize postnasal drip and reduce nasal drainage. The procedure is performed entirely within the nose, so there is no external incisions or scarring.
There are three main types of surgical approaches to reducing turbinate hypertrophy, and they are:
Partial Inferior Turbinectomy (PIT): involves removing some of the soft tissue inside the inferior turbinate.
Submucosal Diathermy (SMD): involves using a special diathermy needle and heat energy to shrink the soft tissue inside the turbinates.
Inferior Turbinate Bone Resection (ITBR): involves removing a portion of bone in the inferior turbinate to promote nasal airflow.
A recent 2018 study in the Journal of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery found that many people reported a significant improvement and reduction of symptoms with surgical treatments.