Choanal adenoids in adults: diagnosis and treatment

ABSTRACT

Choanal adenoids, a rather rarely defined phenomenon, is the presence of adenoid tissues in the choanae, without being extension of the commonly well-known nasopharyngeal adenoids. We present a series of 22 adult patients [17-38 years; 15 males, 7females], with persistent bilaeral nasal obstruction and recurrent nasal infections, and with history e of repeated unsuccessful medical and, in many cases, repeated surgical procedures, in whom choanal adenoids was diagnosed by nasal endoscopy and/or CT scanning. Absence of adenoid tissues in the nasopharynx was confirmed in all cases. Surgical removal of choanal adenoids was undertaken in all cases endoscopically. Some other surgical. procedures like straightening of a deviated septum or reduction of a hypertrophied turbinate were undertaken in some indicated cases. Most of cases experienced complete relief of obstruction and return of a patent nasal airway and improvement of associated complaints as dry mouth and persistent cough. A thorough review of this phenomenon and its clinical relevance and methods of diagnosis and management are presented. We recommend a thorough nasal endoscopy as a routine in cases of persistent nasal obstruction even in the presence of an apparent cause of obstruction