Preoperative Evaluation of Paranasal Computed Tomography Reports of Patients Requesting Rhinoplasty for the Presence of Septal Deviation and Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy: Retrospective Clinical Case Series Study

Background: A successful outcome in rhinoplasty should improve not only the aesthetic appearance of the nose but also the physiologic function of the nasal cavity. Nasal obstruction in many patients is caused by a deviated nasal septum and/or inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Preoperative proper diagnosis of these conditions is very important in planning cosmetic nasal surgery. Methods: Paranasal computed tomography reports of 119 patients requesting cosmetic nasal surgery were evaluated for the presence of septal deviation and inferior turbinate hypertrophy. Results: In 62 patients (52.10%) there was septal deviation with concave side facing the left nasal cavity and in 46 patients (38.65%) there was septal deviation with concave side facing the right nasal cavity. In only 11 patients (9.24%) there was no finding suggesting septal deviation. In 113 patients (94.96%) there was inferior turbinate hypertrophy. In only 6 patients (5.04%) there was no sign of inferior turbinate hypertrophy on paranasal computed tomography scan. Conclusion: Despite the fact that radiologic imaging is usually not a standard part of the workup in patients who are candidates for rhinoplasty, preoperative paranasal computed tomography is essential to detect the presence of concomitant pathologies like septal deformities, inferior turbinate enlargement, bullous middle turbinate and chronic sinusitis. Preoperative paranasal computed tomography is a very valuable method to assess internal nasal structures especially for plastic surgeons who do not have endoscopic instruments to examine nasal cavities.