Imaging Sci Dent.  2021 Sep;51(3):333-336. 10.5624/isd.20200126.

Rhinolith: An incidental radiographic finding

• Maheshwari N
• Etikaala B
• Syed AZ

• KMID: 2527077
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.20200126

Abstract

Rhinoliths are foreign bodies composed of mineralised deposits in the nasal cavity that are rarely encountered in routine dental practice. The current report presents a case of a 77-year-old female patient who visited a dental treatment centre for a routine dental check-up and prophylaxis. On the clinical examination, the patient did not report any breathing difficulty, nasal obstruction, or any form of discharge. Panoramic radiography showed a horizontally magnified radiopaque structure in the right nasal fossa region. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) revealed a hyperdense entity with a laminated presentation in the right nasal fossa. The hyperdense entity was diagnosed as a rhinolith based on the radiographic findings. Although the patient was asymptomatic, a referral was made to an ear, nose, and throat surgeon for a further evaluation. This report highlights the importance of CBCT imaging in the diagnosis of soft-tissue calcifications.

Keyword

Foreign Bodies; Nasal Cavity; Incidental Findings; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography