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Occasionally, the middle turbinate may become enlarged by the presence of an invading air cell (concha bullosa), or it may be abnormally shaped (paradoxically bent). Severe ethmoid sinusitis or nasal polyps can also lead to disease of the middle turbinates. Since most important sinus drainage occurs just alongside the middle turbinate, abnormal formations of the turbinate can contribute to sinus problems and require surgical correction.

Like the inferior turbinates, healthy middle turbinates contribute to normal nasal functioning. They also contain some of the olfactory nerve endings that make up our sense of smell. For this reason, your doctor will probably prescribe the most minimal surgical procedure required to correct the situation. If there is an abnormal enlargement (concha bullosa), this may involve removing the bone on one side of the invading air sac. In the case of an abnormally shaped middle turbinate, part of the turbinate may be removed. When the middle turbinate has become severely inflamed or complicated with polyps, however, it may be necessary to remove much or all of the structure.

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Version 2.0 This web page was first published on April 30, 2002, and was last updated on June 14, 2006.
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