Histopathology of the Inferior Turbinate Showing Compensatory Hypertrophy in Patients with Deviated Nasal Septum

Kim, Bo Hyung; Ryu, Jae Myeon; Cho, Yong Chan; Lim, Dae Jun; Lee, Beob Yi

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES
Deviation of the nasal septum toward one side is often associated with an outgrowth of the inferior turbinate, which occupies the expansive space of the contralateral nasal cavity. It is assumed that this contrabalanced mechanism characterized by compensatory hypertrophy has originated to protect the more patent nasal side from excessive airflow with its drying and crusting effect. We tried to investigate histologic differences of inferior turbinate mucosa of both sides in patients with nasal septal deviation. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Specimens were taken from the anterior portion of inferior turbinates of 15 patients with deviated nasal septum and compensatory hypertrophy of the inferior turbinate. After staining by hematoxylin-eosin, the histologic differences of bilateral turbinate mucosa were examined under light microscope. RESULTS: Epithelia of both sides showed normal or epithelial exfoliation. The number of submucosal glands was significantly higher in the opposite side than in the hypertrophied side. Inflammatory cell infiltration was more severe in the hypertrophied side than in the opposite side. CONCLUSION: Above results suggest that heavy infiltration of inflammatory cells and decreased number of glands in the hypertrophied side might result from aerodynamic change originated from difference of area of airway.