PREVALENCE OF RADIOLOGICAL INFERIOR TURBINATE ANOMALIES AND THEIR CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Background: Inferior turbinate anomalies are often underrecognized contributors to chronic nasal obstruction and other sinonasal symptoms.  Objective: To determine the prevalence of inferior turbinate anomalies on CT imaging and to evaluate their clinical implications in patients with sinonasal symptoms. Methods: This prospective, observational study was conducted at CMH, 
Lahore from 10 January 2023 to 20 December 2023. A total of 110 patients who presented with symptoms of nasal obstruction, chronic 
rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, or related sinonasal complaints were enrolled in the study. All enrolled patients underwent non-contrast high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans of the paranasal sinuses using a 64-slice multidetector CT scanner. Axial images were acquired with a slice thickness of ≤1 mm and multiplanar reformations were performed to obtain coronal and sagittal views.  
Results: Out of 110 patients, 78 (70.9%) had at least one inferior turbinate anomaly. The most common was hypertrophy (56.4%), followed by paradoxical curvature (16.4%), pneumatization (8.2%), medial/lateral deviation (10.9%), and bony outgrowth (5.5%). A statistically significant association was found between inferior turbinate hypertrophy and higher NOSE scores (p < 0.01). Coexisting nasal anomalies such as deviated nasal septum (65.5%) and middle turbinate concha bullosa (25.5%) were common. Conclusion: It is concluded that inferior turbinate anomalies are prevalent and clinically significant in patients with sinonasal symptoms. Routine CT evaluation of the inferior turbinates is crucial for comprehensive diagnosis and optimal treatment planning. The correlation between radiological anomalies and symptom severity highlights the need for structured radiological reporting and individualized clinical 
management.