Difference between nasal concha hypertrophy and nasal polyps

Turbinate hypertrophy and nasal polyps are both very common diseases in daily life. Since the two have many similarities in many aspects, people tend to confuse them. In fact, there are differences between turbinate hypertrophy and nasal polyps in terms of causes, symptoms, and treatments. Turbinate hypertrophy generally develops from chronic simple rhinitis, and the secretions during nasal polyposis are generally serous and mucous. Friends in need can learn more about it.

1. Hypertrophy of nasal conchae

1. Disease Introduction

Enlarged turbinates can cause nasal obstruction. The clinical symptoms of rhinitis vary and are extremely harmful. When it affects the physiological function of the nasal cavity, breathing disorders will occur, causing a decrease in blood oxygen concentration, affecting the function and metabolism of other tissues and organs, and causing symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, memory loss, chest pain, chest tightness, mental depression, etc., and even serious complications such as emphysema, cor pulmonale, and asthma. When rhinitis is not treated in time and affects the olfactory mucosa, olfactory disorders will occur, resulting in the inability to smell fragrance or odors.

2. Causes

It usually develops from chronic simple rhinitis. The cilia of the mucosal epithelium fall off and become a stratified cuboidal epithelium. The submucosal layer undergoes edema and then fibrous tissue hyperplasia, causing the mucosa to thicken. Over time, it may become mulberry-like or polyp-like, with hyperplasia of the periosteum and bone tissue, and hypertrophy of the nasal concha bones.

Symptoms

1. Severe nasal congestion, often persistent, with frequent mouth breathing and decreased sense of smell.

Introduction to turbinate hypertrophy.

(ii) The nasal discharge is thick and often mucous or mucopurulent. Due to postnasal drip, the throat is irritated and causes coughing and sputum.

(3) When the enlarged middle turbinate compresses the nasal septum, it can cause compression or inflammation of the anterior ethmoid nerve, which is derived from the ophthalmic branch of the trigeminal nerve. This can cause irregular attacks of frontal pain that radiates to the bridge of the nose and eye sockets. This is called anterior ethmoid neuralgia, also known as anterior ethmoid nerve syndrome.

(iv) The mucosa is swollen, pink or purple, with an uneven surface, or node-shaped or mulberry-shaped, especially at the front end of the inferior turbinate and its free edge. There is no obvious depression when the probe is pressed lightly, but it feels hard to the touch.

(V) The inferior turbinate is significantly enlarged, or both the inferior and middle turbinate are enlarged, often leading to nasal obstruction. There is mucous or mucopurulent discharge from the nasal floor or inferior nasal meatus.

(vi) Mucosal contraction is not obvious after topical application of vasoconstrictors.

(VII) Severe nasal congestion, often persistent, frequent mouth breathing, and decreased sense of smell.

2. Nasal polyps

1. Clinical manifestations

1. Persistent nasal congestion. Nasal polyps are more common in bilateral cases and less common in unilateral cases. It often manifests as bilateral persistent nasal congestion and gradually worsens. The increase in the size of polyps can completely block nasal ventilation. Severe nasal congestion may cause nasal congestion, decreased sense of smell, blockage nasal sound, snoring during sleep and mouth breathing.

2. There may be runny nose, headache, tinnitus, stuffy ears and hearing loss.

3. Mucous polyps are quite similar to peeled grapes or fresh lychee flesh, with a smooth and translucent surface, pink in color, and thin strips mostly coming from the middle nasal meatus, which are soft and movable to the touch.

4. Hemorrhagic polyps (less common) have a smooth surface, are congested, feel soft and bleed easily.

5. Multiple polyps often originate from the ethmoid sinus, and single polyps often grow from the maxillary sinus and fall into the posterior nasal cavity, which is called a "choanal polyp."

6. If nasal polyps increase in number and become larger and are not treated for a long time, the nasal bridge may widen and form a "frog nose".