Rare anatomic variation: Giant unilateral concha bullosa superior

Abstract

The lateral nasal wall attaches the nasal turbinates, which could be, either pneumatized, or paradoxically curved. The turbinate pneumatization-concha bullosausually indicates the pneumatization of the middle turbinate. However, concha bullosasuperior (CBS) is also, although rare, anatomic possibility of variation. We report here a case of unilateral giant septated CBS, which was not, to our knowledge, previously reported. The case was documented in Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Subtle pneumatizations of inferior turbinates were found bilateral, as also were the middle conchae bullosae. The left concha bullosasuperior was very large (17.43/5.34mm), dropping down between the left middle turbinate and the contralaterally deviated nasal septum, and contacting the paradoxical curvature of the middle turbinate on that side. An incomplete oblique septum divided it incompletely into anterior and posterior chambers, it was communicating with a posterior ethmoid air cell, and was draining in the superior meatus. Care should be taken not to misdiagnose a giant CBS as a middle turbinate pneumatization, in order not to misjudge surgical corridors. Therefore, a careful anatomic CT or CBCT diagnosis would be of use for the plan of treatment.

Keywords: Anatomic variation; Concha bullosa; Cone Beam CT; Nasal fossa; Nasal turbinate.