Can nasal turbinates hypertrophy be seen with the naked eye?

Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
Updated on November 09, 2024
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Turbinate hypertrophy is visible to the naked eye as the turbinates are located on the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. When the turbinates are excessively enlarged, a dark red protrusion will appear inside the nasal cavity. Turbinate hypertrophy primarily leads to persistent progressive nasal congestion for the patient, along with feelings of nasal swelling, a foreign body sensation, and mucous nasal discharge.

Turbinate hypertrophy is generally caused by acute and chronic rhinitis, allergic rhinitis, deviated nasal septum, and nasal polyps. It is necessary to visit a hospital for a detailed examination, where procedures like nasal endoscopy, sinus CT, complete blood count, and skin prick tests can confirm the diagnosis.

In terms of treatment, during the acute phase, nebulized inhalation therapy using corticosteroids can be the first approach. This helps to reduce turbinate size and alleviate nasal congestion. Additionally, regular physical exercise and treatment of the primary disease are recommended. If conservative treatment is ineffective, partial resection of the bilateral lower turbinates may be needed.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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How to deal with nasal polyps and enlarged turbinates?

Nasal polyps and hypertrophic turbinates require surgical treatment because both are manifestations of chronic inflammation in rhinitis. Medical treatment alone is not very effective in these cases. Nasal polyps and hypertrophic turbinates mainly cause poor nasal ventilation, and over time, can also affect the drainage of the sinuses. Therefore, in patients with significantly enlarged nasal polyps, who often also suffer from chronic sinusitis, treatment involves the endoscopic removal of nasal polyps and partial resection of the inferior turbinate, along with the opening of the sinus passages. This is a systematic and comprehensive treatment approach. After surgery, it is crucial to follow a prescribed medication regimen, as this ensures the effectiveness of the surgery. If surgery is performed without subsequent medication, the results may not be very good. Additionally, regular postoperative check-ups and cleanings are essential to maintain the effectiveness of the surgery and to prevent long-term recurrence. Many patients who cease medication and do not return for follow-up cleanings after surgery are likely to experience a quick recurrence.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Can hypertrophic turbinates be washed with saline?

Clinically, turbinate hypertrophy is primarily due to inflammatory diseases of the nasal cavity and sinuses, leading to congestion and edema of the nasal mucosa, thickening of the nasal mucosa, proliferation of the submucosal tissue, and even proliferation of the periosteum of the turbinate. Clinically, using saline solution to spray and clean the nasal cavity is a basic treatment for nasal inflammatory diseases, so turbinate hypertrophy can indeed be managed through the use of saline sprays. When spraying saline, care must be taken not to direct the spray at the turbinates directly, to avoid damaging the nasal mucosa. Typically, hypertonic saline is used, which helps maintain the stability of the nasal microenvironment and aids in restoring the nasal mucosa to its normal state. Generally, hypertonic saline is used, and other concentrations are not suitable.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 12sec home-news-image

What causes turbinate hypertrophy?

Turbinates hypertrophy is most commonly seen in clinical practice, caused by repeated inflammation, leading to congestion, swelling, hyperplasia, and prolapse of the turbinate mucosa. The hypertrophy mainly involves the lower turbinates, causing bilateral nasal obstruction in patients, with the condition progressively worsening. Additionally, there may be mucous secretions from the front of the nose, and when accompanied by a bacterial infection, yellow secretions may be present. Patients may also experience facial swelling, headaches, reduced sense of smell, and memory decline as clinical symptoms. Upon examination with an endoscope, significant congestion and swelling of the bilateral lower turbinates can be observed, often covered with abnormal secretions. In terms of treatment, if the turbinate hypertrophy is chronic, conservative treatment is ineffective, and patients may require partial resection of the bilateral lower turbinates for a cure. However, surgery has its principles; it is crucial not to remove more than one-third of the lower turbinate to avoid the risk of empty nose syndrome.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Will nasal turbinate hypertrophy heal on its own?

Enlarged turbinates are a relatively common otolaryngological condition. In terms of treatment, if the enlargement is mild with no significant clinical symptoms, observation is often considered sufficient. Regular follow-up examinations are necessary to monitor any changes, and some patients may recover on their own. If the turbinate enlargement is severe and accompanied by related clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headaches, and dizziness, further examinations should be considered. These may include nasopharyngoscopy or sinus CT scans. In terms of treatment, oral medications and nasal sprays are generally considered. Regular follow-up is needed during treatment to observe the effectiveness. (Please use medications under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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Can nasal turbinates enlargement cause a fever?

Enlarged nasal turbinates do not cause fever. Enlarged nasal turbinates only lead to persistent nasal congestion in patients, accompanied by sensations of foreign bodies and swelling in the nasal cavity. Mucous nasal discharge can appear in the nasal cavity due to enlarged turbinates. Generally, this is caused by chronic inflammatory stimulation and chronic allergic reactions, commonly seen in clinical cases of chronic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis. A detailed examination at a hospital using an endoscopic nasal camera can reveal bilateral inferior turbinate diffuse congestion, edema, and hyperplasia, which cause persistent nasal congestion. In terms of treatment, if it is allergic rhinitis, symptomatic antiallergic treatment is needed, such as oral administration of loratadine, and the concurrent use of mometasone furoate nasal spray has good effects in reducing the size of the nasal turbinates. If it is chronic simple rhinitis, nasal nebulization can be used, and physical exercise is also necessary to restore the function of the nasal turbinate mucosa for gradual improvement.