Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopy in Nasal Obstruction ? Our Experience

Introduction A large number of patients present to the ENT outpatient department with complaints of nasal obstruction. causes of which could be neoplastic, non neoplastic or anatomical abnormalities in the nose paranasal sinus or nasopharynx. Based on clinical presentation imaging techniques and diagnostic endoscopy, clinical diagnosis can be ascertained. Aim To study the a) incidence of various causes of nasal obstruction. b) Its age predilection c) sex predilection d) to ascertain site of origin and histopathological type. Method 100 Cases who presented with nasal obstruction in the ENT outpatient department McGann Hospital SIMS, Shimoga were studied from September 2014 to July 2015. Result Out of the 100 cases studied majority of the patients were found to have deviated nasal septum (38 %) and incidence was equal amongst male & female (11). Out of the 100 cases maximum cases were in the second and third decade of life. Male female ratio was 1.43 clearly showing male preponderance.38 % presented with DNS, 24 % presented with sinusitis, 19 % nasal polyposis, 4 % with nasal mass (2 with nasal hemangioma and 2 with fibro angioma), 13 % patients presented with adenoid hypertrophy and 1 case each of atrophic rhinits and rhinoscleroma. Conclusion Incidence of deviated nasal septum was highest closely followed by sinusitis and nasal polyposis and incidence of male preponderance was highest in the present study