General Information About Turbinate Hypertrophy
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the abnormal enlargement and swelling of the spongy tissues (turbinates) located on the side walls of the nasal cavity that filter, humidify, and warm the air we breathe before it goes down to the lungs.
No. Adenoids are a lymphoid tissue seen in children and located in the upper back part of the throat. Turbinates (nasal conchae), on the other hand, are blood vessel bundles found directly inside the nostrils that everyone has.
Allergic rhinitis (hay fever), frequent sinusitis, air pollution, constant exposure to cigarette smoke, and prolonged, unconscious use of chemical nasal decongestant sprays permanently swell the turbinates.
Sleeping with the mouth open, severe and continuous nasal congestion, nighttime snoring, sleep apnea, frequent headaches, and a decreased sense of smell.
The swollen and purplish turbinates are easily detected when an ENT physician examines the inside of the nose with a thin endoscope equipped with a camera at its tip.
In the first stage, cortisone nasal sprays that suppress allergies are used. If sprays do not work, under local anesthesia (in a clinical setting), the blood vessels inside the turbinate are burned with 'Radiofrequency' or laser devices to shrink the tissue. It is a bloodless, tampon-free, and very brief procedure.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
