Pneumatization of the intranasal turbinates or concha bullosa is an anatomic variation of the lateral nasal wall. Concha bullosa is defined as the presence of air cells in turbinates. It can be best diagnosed with paranasal sinus computed tomography. Concha bullosa is a possible etiologic factor for recurrent sinusitis due to its negative effect on paranasal sinus ventilation and mucociliary clearance. Concha bullosa is most commonly seen in the middle turbinate and less frequently in the inferior or superior turbinate. Pneumatization of all turbinates is very rare. To our knowledge, there are only two publications about a case with concha bullosa in all turbinates in the current literature. Here, we present a woman with bilateral pneumatization in all three intranasal turbinates.

The purpose of this study was to retrospectively determine the possible role of septated concha bullosa on sinonasal pathologies. Paranasal sinus computerized tomography scans of patients with symptoms of headache, postnasal drip, nasal obstruction and smell disorders were retrospectively evaluated. Twenty-eight subjects with unilateral septated concha bullosa and 13 subjects with unilateral concha bullosa without septation were selected as the study and control groups, respectively. Both groups were compared according to the presence of septal deviation and sinus pathology. There were no statistically significant differences in baseline characteristics (age and gender) between the groups. Sinus involvement was found in 20 patients (71.4 %) in the study group and in 10 patients (76.9 %) in the control group. The most common pathology accompanying septated concha bullosa was maxillary sinusitis (65 %), and ethmoid sinus was the second most involved sinus (25 %). Similar results in terms of sinus involvement were also seen in the control group. Septal deviation was seen in 18 patients in the study group (64.2 %) and in 12 patients in the control group (92.3 %). Eventually, there was no statistically significant difference between septated and non-septated concha bullosa groups according to the accompanying sinonasal pathologies.