The correlation between septal deviation and concha bullosa.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence of concha bullosa (CB) in patients with septal deviation and the correlation between the angle of deviation and degree of pneumatization. Study and design This study was designed as a prospective trial.

Methods: Computerized tomography scans of the paranasal sinuses of 100 consecutive patients with the chief complaint of nasal obstruction and the diagnosis of septal deviation were taken. CB, sinus diseases, and septal deviation angles were recorded.

Results: Angles of deviation ranged between 3 and 25 degrees (mean, 13.0 +/- 4.1 degrees). The mean of angle of deviation in cases with CB and in cases without CB was 13.0 +/- 4.0 and 13.0 +/- 4.2 degrees, respectively. No statistical difference was found between them (P > 0.05). Pneumatization of the contralateral CB was statistically significantly higher than that of ipsilateral CB (P < 0.05).

Conclusion: Septal deviation does not appear to give rise to the formation of CB, but augments the pneumatization of the middle turbinate depending on the degree of deviation angle.