Role of endoscopy in assessment of nasal obstruction

ABSTRACT

100 patients, complaining of nasal obstruction included in this study, were subjected to full ENT examination and conventional sinus X-ray films. Provisional diagnosis of the cause of nasal obstruction was put forward. Endoscopic examination of the nose ruled out other causes of nasal obstruction as hypertrophied bulla-ethmoidalis in 40% of patients with deviated septum [DS] and in 66% of patients with hypertrophied inferior turbinate [HIT]. Also, an over hanging and hypertrophied middle turbinate was found in 45% of cases with DS and they were 50% of cases with hypertrophy of MT as well as 30% of cases with nasal polypi. Hypertrophied posterior end of inferior turbinate was found in 30% of cases with hypertrophied IT. Posterior septal deviation was found in 30% of cases with DS, in 16% of cases with nasal polypi. So, it can be seen that many hidden causes of nasal obstruction could be ruled out by the use of sinuscope that affects the line of management