Aetiopathological Spectrum of Unilateral Nasal Mass: A Hospital-based Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: The presence of unilateral symptoms or pathology should be regarded with extreme caution as sino nasal neoplasms in their early stages with subtle symptoms may mimic inflammatory pathology. It is always the otolaryngologist’s endeavour to diagnose a neoplastic pathology in the early stage to prevent further complications. Aim: To study the aetiopathological profile, age, and sex distribution of unilateral nasal masses presented to our tertiary care centre. Materials and Methods: The present study was a hospital-based cross-sectional study consisting of 53 patients of all age groups, of both sexes, with unilateral nasal mass presenting to the Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Outpatient Department (OPD) at Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Secunderabad, Telangana, India from December 2020 to June 2021. A detailed history was recorded and the patient underwent a complete ENT check-up, and head-neck examination followed by Computed Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), and biopsy. Results: The mean age of the study population was 44 years and there were 47 males and 6 females. Nose block was the most common presenting symptom in 43 (81.1%). Middle meatus was the common site seen in 12 patients (22.6%). Inflammatory lesions was the most common observed in 24 (45.3%), followed by fungal sinusitis in 6 (11.3%), granulomatous lesions in 2 (3.8%), benign lesions in 15 (28.3%), and malignant lesions in 6 (11.3%). Conclusion: Unilateral nasal masses were found common in males than females, with a peak incidence in the 5th to 6th decades of life. Histopathologically inflammatory lesions are the most common followed by benign and then malignant lesions. Any unilateral nasal mass should be viewed with a high index of suspicion for malignant lesions and should be subjected to diagnostic nasal endoscopy, imaging, and histopathological examination after surgical excision of the mass.