Management of Rhinolithiasis through Endoscopic Approach / 대한이비인후과학회지

ABSTRACT

A Lithiasis within the nasal cavity (rhinolith) can be formed by either endogenous or exogenous material. It occurs as a result of the solidification of mucus and nasal debris by mineral salts, calcium, magnesium phosphate and carbonate. Rhinolithiasis leads to unilateral obstruction of the nasal airway followed by inflammation of the nasal mucus membrane and the paranasal cavities. It can be seen by the endoscopic examination as a hard intranasal mass, but diagnosis of rhinolithiasis can be difficult due to the varying clinical presentations. Surgery is obligatory for the removal of rhinoliths and in most cases it can be done by nasal endoscopic removal. Giant rhinolith, which is penetrated into the surrounding anatomical structures, needs more extended surgical approaches such as Caldwell-Luc operation or lateral rhinotomy. Here, we report one case of rhinolithiasis, which was removed surgically for the purpose of diagnosis and treatment, and present a literature review of this condition.