Radiological Examinations of Inferior Turbinate in Patients with or without Deviated Nasal Septum by Using Computed Tomography

Received August 18, 2015 Revised October 20, 2015 Accepted October 27, 2015 Address for correspondence Byoung-Joon Baek, MD, PhD Department of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, Cheonan Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, 31 Suncheonhyang 6-gil, Dongnam-gu, Cheonan 31151, Korea Tel +82-41-570-2265 Fax +82-41-579-9022 E-mail bjbaek@schmc.ac.kr Background and ObjectivesZZThe aim of this study was to analyse the radiological anatomic dimensions of the inferior turbinate in patients without deviated nasal septum and compare it to those in the patients with deviated nasal septum using computed tomography. Subjects and MethodZZThe OMU CTs of 98 patients, 196 nostrils with or without deviated nasal septum were evaluated (control group: 42 patients, deviated septum group: 56 patients). The analysis of the CT scans contained the mucosal and bony length, mucosal width of the turbinate and the anterior and posterior mucosal overlay. And also evaluated the cross-sectional area and the type of inferior turbinate bone. ResultsZZAll subjects were divided into three groups: the concave, convex, and control groups. The correlations of fifteen measuring points such as anterior, middle and posterior medial mucosal thickness, total width, bone width, medial mucosa width of inferior turbinate, and area of inferior turbinate bone were significantly different among the groups (concave side>control group>convex side). Of the demographic factors, age was negatively correlated with mucosa and bone length. Types of inferior turbinate bone were as follows: lamella type (38%), combined type (37%), compact type (25%). ConclusionZZThere were statistical differences in some measured anatomical points among the concave, convex, and control groups. Greater septum deviation was correlated with greater degree of hypertrophysm of the inferior turbinate. The age of patients showed negative correlation with inferior turbinate length. Most frequent type of inferior turbinate was lamella type. The results of this study may provide important information when considering turbinate surgery. Korean J Otorhinolaryngol-Head Neck Surg 2016;59(1):28-34