What can be seen during anterior rhinoscopy

Anterior rhinoscopy is also a method often used in clinical medicine to detect nasal diseases. Anterior rhinoscopy mainly infers whether the patient has nasal diseases by comparing the color of the mucosa inside the nasal cavity. Because the nasal mucosa of a normal person is very soft and elastic, and there is no obvious accumulation of secretions inside. What nasal diseases can be detected by anterior rhinoscopy?

Normal value

The normal nasal mucosa is light pink, with a smooth and moist surface. If you touch the inferior turbinate lightly with a rolled cotton ball, you can feel that the mucosa is soft and elastic, and there is no secretion accumulation in the nasal passages.

Clinical significance

Abnormal results: In acute inflammation, the mucosa is bright red with sticky secretions. In chronic inflammation, the mucosa is dark red, the front end of the inferior turbinate is sometimes mulberry-shaped, and the secretions are mucopurulent. The mucosa of allergic rhinitis is pale, edematous or lavender, and the secretions are clear and watery. The mucosa of atrophic rhinitis shrinks and becomes dry, loses its normal luster, and is covered with pus crusts. The inferior turbinate is reduced in size, and the middle turbinate occasionally becomes thickened or polypoid. Purulent discharge in the middle nasal meatus is caused by lesions in the anterior group of sinuses, while purulent discharge in the olfactory groove is caused by lesions in the posterior group of sinuses. People who need to be examined: patients with nasal polyps or rhinitis.

Precautions

Inappropriate groups: None. Taboos before inspection: Be careful to move gently and avoid rough operation. Requirements during the examination: The nasal endoscope should not be inserted too deep to avoid causing pain or damaging the nasal septum mucosa and causing bleeding. When taking out the nose mirror, do not close the two leaves completely to avoid pinching the nose hair and causing pain. For uncooperative children, parents can hug them, support their heads with one hand, hold their arms with the other hand, clamp their legs between their knees, and examine them with a small nasal endoscope.

Inspection process

The examiner holds the rhinoscope in his left hand, pinches the joint of the anterior rhinoscope with the thumb and index finger, places one handle on the palm, and holds the other three fingers on the other handle. The two-leaf anterior rhinoscope is inserted into the nasal vestibule parallel to the base of the nose and gently opened. The nasal endoscope should not be inserted too deeply to avoid causing pain or damaging the nasal septum mucosa and causing bleeding. When taking out the nose mirror, do not close the two leaves completely to avoid pinching the nose hair and causing pain. For patients suspected of having sinusitis but with no secretions in the nasal passages, postural drainage can be performed to assist in the examination. First, a cotton pad filled with 1% ephedrine saline is placed in the middle nasal passage and the olfactory groove to shrink the nasal mucosa and keep the sinus opening open. Then the head and body are placed in a certain position and the examination is repeated after about 10-15 minutes. If maxillary sinus abscess is suspected, lie on your side with your head down, with the healthy side facing downward. If pus is seen flowing out of the middle nasal meatus, it can be confirmed. When examining the anterior group of ethmoid sinuses, the head should be tilted slightly back, while that of the posterior group of ethmoid sinuses should be tilted slightly forward. When examining the frontal sinuses, sit upright.

Related diseases

Seasonal rhinitis, dry rhinitis, medicamentous rhinitis, maxillary sinusitis, submandibular gland inflammation, rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, nasal polyps