The Contribution of the Concha Bullosa to the Chronic Sinusitis

Pneumatization of middle turbinate, termed concha bullosa, is one of the most common obstructive anatomical variants seen in patients with sinusitis. In this study, a total of 319 patients suspected of havinig sinusitis were evaluated in order to study the effects of concha bullosa in the opacification of the paranasal sinuses as well as the relation between the types of concha bullosa ( CB ) and ostiomeatal complex disease (OMCD) The results were that there were no definite difference between cases with and without sinusitis in the incidence of concha bullosa. In 19 cases of pneumatized middle turbinate without other associated obstructive anatomical variants, there were only 3 cases (3.2%) of sinusitis. Mucosal changes of sinus were observed according to the presence of CB. More mucosal changes were seen in the groups which did not have CB than with CB. These results suggest that concha bullosa itself does not predispose in development of chronic sinusitis.