Is minimally invasive treatment effective for enlarged turbinates?

Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

Updated on January 12, 2025

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Turbinate hypertrophy primarily considers conservative medication in treatment aspects. However, a portion of patients does not respond well to medication and may need to consider minimally invasive surgery. One common procedure is endoscopic surgery, which can perform turbinate reduction ablation. Many patients gradually improve after surgery, and their clinical symptoms also diminish. However, individual differences in treatment outcomes still exist. Post-surgery, it is essential to regularly follow up and observe changes in the patient's condition. Additionally, some patients might need combined therapy involving oral and nasal spray medications and can benefit from nasal irrigation with saline solution as an adjunctive treatment. (Please follow the doctor's prescription when taking medications.)

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Written by Zhang Jun

Otolaryngology

1min 17sec

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Can medication cure nasal turbinate hypertrophy?

Turbinate hypertrophy can often be cured with medication, and if not cured, partial surgical removal of the hypertrophied turbinates can be curative. Turbinate hypertrophy is generally caused by chronic rhinitis and allergic rhinitis. It manifests due to lowered immunity and resistance in the body, leading to repeated inflammatory infections or allergic reactions in the nasal cavity, resulting in bilateral nasal turbinates swelling diffusely, becoming edematous, proliferating, and enlarging. After turbinate enlargement, it mainly causes the patient to experience persistent nasal congestion on both sides, accompanied by a foreign body sensation and swelling in the nasal cavity. Patients will also have mucous secretions from the nasal cavity and will require a detailed examination at the hospital, where tests such as nasal endoscopy, sinus CT, and allergen antibody tests can provide a diagnosis. For treatment, nebulized inhalation can be used with good effectiveness for chronic rhinitis. For allergic rhinitis, symptomatic anti-allergic treatment is needed to shrink the turbinates and relieve nasal congestion. If conservative treatment is ineffective, local surgical treatment may be necessary.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

56sec

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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.

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Written by Li Rui

Otolaryngology

53sec

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Does nasal turbinate hypertrophy easily cause nosebleeds?

If we are only talking about simple hypertrophy of the turbinates, it generally does not easily lead to nosebleeds. Enlarged turbinates might cause nasal congestion, runny nose, and could also lead to a decreased sense of smell, headaches, or dizziness, but some patients may not have obvious clinical symptoms and are only discovered during a physical examination. Therefore, patients with turbinate hypertrophy need to seek consultation at an otolaryngology department after experiencing relevant clinical symptoms. Examinations such as nasal endoscopy, routine blood tests, and sinus CT scans can be helpful in assessing the specific severity of the condition and the cause of the disease. Once diagnosed, targeted treatment can be administered and regular follow-ups are required to monitor the treatment effects.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu

Otolaryngology

55sec

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What should I do about turbinate hypertrophy?

Clinically, turbinate hypertrophy is mainly caused by the stimulation of inflammatory factors such as acute and chronic rhinitis and sinusitis, leading to the proliferation of the turbinate, including the mucosal and even bony growth, as well as congenital developmental factors causing turbinate enlargement. Initially, treatment typically involves medication, using nasal sprays such as corticosteroids for nasal treatment. Secondly, surgical treatment can be employed. We can assess the extent of turbinate hypertrophy with a nasal CT scan to determine if there is bony enlargement. If there is bony hypertrophy, partial resection of the submucosal turbinate bone can be performed. If the hypertrophy is only in the mucosal and soft tissue, it can be treated using plasma ablation. In summary, turbinate hypertrophy can be treated with medication or surgery, depending on the specific extent of the pathology.

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Written by Zhang Jun

Otolaryngology

1min 6sec

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Does hypertrophy of the nasal turbinates cause the appearance of the nose to enlarge?

Prolonged stimulation of turbinates hypertrophy can cause patients to experience widening and thickening of the nostrils, also affecting the appearance of the nose. Clinically, this is referred to as "frog nose." Turbinates hypertrophy commonly stems from prolonged chronic inflammation and episodes of allergic rhinitis, leading to bilateral congestion, swelling, hyperplasia, and enlargement of the inferior and middle turbinates. Patients will experience persistent nasal congestion bilaterally, accompanied by a foreign body sensation and swelling in the nasal cavity. Changes in the shape and appearance of the nose also occur, necessitating a detailed examination at a hospital. Diagnosis can be confirmed with an endoscopic examination and sinus CT scan. In terms of treatment, acute turbinates hypertrophy may be treated with antibiotics, along with nebulized inhalation therapy. If conservative treatment is ineffective, partial resection of the bilateral inferior turbinates may be necessary.