Is the recurrence rate of nasal turbinate hypertrophy high?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on May 13, 2025
00:00
00:00

The recurrence rate of turbinate hypertrophy is relatively high, and there are various causes for it, with most cases resulting from chronic rhinitis or sinusitis. After timely medical treatment, many patients' turbinate enlargement will be alleviated, and clinical symptoms will improve. However, the condition may recur after inflammation flares up again. For those with severe enlargement, if standard medical treatment is ineffective, some patients may consider undergoing turbinate reduction surgery. After surgery, regular follow-up examinations are necessary to monitor the effects of the operation. Nonetheless, some patients might still experience a recurrence of the condition after surgery. (Please use medication under the guidance of a physician.)

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
56sec home-news-image

Can Chinese medicine cure hypertrophic turbinates?

Turbinate hypertrophy includes hypertrophy of the inferior and middle turbinates. Turbinate hypertrophy is mainly caused by chronic inflammation, which is rhinitis. The general treatment mainly involves medication, particularly local medications such as nasal corticosteroids and nasal vasoconstrictors that constrict blood vessels in the nasal mucosa. Traditional Chinese medicine can be somewhat effective, primarily involving aromatic herbs or proprietary Chinese medicines to provide some therapeutic effect; however, these are mostly used as supplementary treatments and should not be the primary medication. Moreover, their use should be under the guidance of a doctor. Additionally, a CT scan is needed for turbinate hypertrophy to assess if there is any bony enlargement of the turbinates; if there is, surgical treatment may need to be considered.

doctor image
home-news-image
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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 21sec home-news-image

Can hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates be reduced by taking anti-inflammatory drugs?

Whether taking anti-inflammatory drugs is needed for enlarged turbinates depends first on identifying the cause of the enlargement. If the enlargement of the turbinates is caused by bacterial infection, it is appropriate to take anti-inflammatory medication such as antibiotics. However, if it is caused by allergies, antibiotics will be ineffective. Generally, there are two reasons for enlarged turbinates. The first is due to symptoms caused by acute inflammatory infections, commonly seen in clinical cases of acute rhinitis or acute sinusitis. Clinically, these are most often caused by infections from hemolytic streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus, resulting in congested, swollen, and hypertrophic mucous membranes of the turbinates. Antibiotics such as penicillin or cephalosporin can be effective in treatment. However, antibiotics are ineffective for allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis occurs when the immune and resistance levels are low, and the nasal cavity comes into contact with related allergens. Patients will also experience enlarged turbinates, along with symptoms like sneezing and runny nose. Treatment should focus on symptomatic allergy treatment to shrink the turbinates and alleviate nasal congestion.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
1min 2sec home-news-image

What can be done to alleviate the difficulty in breathing caused by enlarged turbinates?

Breathing difficulties caused by hypertrophic turbinates can initially be managed with corticosteroids via nebulization. Additionally, massaging the Yingxiang acupoints on the outer sides of both nostrils can constrict the turbinates and quickly alleviate nasal congestion to ease breathing difficulties. Patients also need to undergo detailed examination at the hospital using an endoscopic camera and sinus CT to determine the cause of the turbinate hypertrophy. Turbinate hypertrophy generally results from symptoms caused by chronic rhinitis or chronic allergic rhinitis, leading to persistent bilateral nasal congestion in patients. This is also accompanied by a foreign body sensation in the nose, swelling, and the discharge of mucous nasal fluid. For treatment, symptomatic anti-inflammatory and anti-allergy therapy should initially be administered. If conservative treatments are ineffective, a partial turbinectomy on both sides may be necessary.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
59sec home-news-image

How is turbinate hypertrophy caused?

The most common cause of turbinates hypertrophy in clinical practice is chronic rhinitis. Chronic rhinitis is nasal symptoms caused by unresolved acute rhinitis. Patients will experience bilateral turbinates hypertrophy and poor contractile effects of the constrictor muscle. Patients will also experience alternating bilateral nasal congestion, which is lighter during physical activities in the day and more severe at night when it's quiet. In terms of treatment, patients need to initially take some proprietary Chinese medicines orally. Additionally, the nasal cavity needs to be treated with nebulized inhalation to alleviate local congestion and edema. Patients also need to exercise to restore the function of the turbinates mucous membrane to enhance immunity and resistance, and only then can allergic rhinitis be gradually cured. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician, and do not self-medicate blindly.)