Polyps originating from accessory middle turbinate and secondary middle turbinate

Abstract

To our knowledge, this is the first report in the world literature of polyps originating from a unilateral accessory middle turbinate and secondary middle turbinate. Pre-operative recognition of these rare anatomical variations is of particular importance in avoiding intra-operative complication.

A rare nasal cavity mass in a child: Accessory middle turbinate

“…3 Although the bifid inferior turbinate could be confused with an accessory middle turbinate, it can easily be distinguished on a paranasal sinus CT scan because there is no uncinate process in a bifid inferior turbinate. 4 In this study, accessory middle turbinates were encountered as incidental finding, and recurrent epistaxis was not related to accessory middle turbinates. Variations of uncinate process anatomy may obliterate the paranasal sinus drainage pathway, but do not usually affect nasal airflow.…”

“…2 Anatomical variations of the nasal cavity in adults have been extensively documented in adults. [1][2][3][4] Adults with sinonasal anatomical variations may present with no clinical symptoms or higher incidence of inflammatory sinus disease. 2,4 Better understanding of the anatomical variations of the nasal cavity in children has potential to improve diagnosis, avoidance of radiation exposure due to CT imaging, and understand clinical significance.…”

“…3 Although the bifid inferior turbinate could be confused with an accessory middle turbinate, it can easily be distinguished on a paranasal sinus CT scan because there is no uncinate process in a bifid inferior turbinate. 4…”

Rare anatomic variation: Nasopharyngeal middle turbinate

“…During the developmental process of turbinates, some anatomical variations may occur, the most notable being the pneumatization of the middle nasal turbinate (concha bullosa). Other anatomical variations of the middle nasal turbinate include the paradoxical middle turbinate, bifid or trifid middle turbinate, secondary middle turbinate, trifurcate middle turbinate, middle turbinate hypogenesis or agenesis . The identification of these nasal anatomical variations is relevant in case of functional endoscopic sinus surgery and because some of them are suspected to be associated with the development of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) .…”

“…Other anatomical variations of the middle nasal turbinate include the paradoxical middle turbinate, bifid or trifid middle turbinate, secondary middle turbinate, trifurcate middle turbinate, middle turbinate hypogenesis or agenesis. [1][2][3] The identification of these nasal anatomical variations is relevant in case of functional endoscopic sinus surgery and because some of them are suspected to be associated with the development of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). 3 In this paper, we report a very rare case of unilateral nasopharyngeal middle turbinate in a patient with CRS.…”