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The Nasal Vestibular Body and Its Role in Nasal Obstruction

  • RHINOLOGY: Nasal Obstruction (JV Nayak, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

The nasal vestibular body (NVB) is a recently reported, dynamic swell body present in the anterior nasal airway that may contribute to symptomatic nasal airway obstruction. This review aims to summarize what is currently known regarding the diagnosis and management of this newly identified, and readily treated, structure.

Recent Findings

NVB can be a prominent finding in nasal airway pathway; its role as a component of nasal obstruction can be assessed by chemical decongestion of the NVB soft tissue alone. NVB soft tissue reduction can be surgically achieved using radiofrequency ablation. This modality is safe and effective without any evidence of long-term sequala, and moreover provides for significant improvement in nasal air passage following NVB soft tissue reduction.

Summary

The NVB is a newly identified nasal structure that can contribute to nasal obstruction. It site of tissue hypertrophy may have been overlooked until recently due to its location in the nasal cavity, or use of vasoconstricting agents prior to formal examination. Topical decongestion of the NVB soft tissue alone can assist in discriminating the role of the NVB in nasal obstruction in individual patients. Reports of surgical management using radiofrequency ablation have thus far been shown to be safe and highly effective.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

    Angela Yang, Dayoung Kim, Esmond Tsai, Michael T. Chang, Christopher M. Low & Nour Ibrahim

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Galilee Medical Center, Naharya, Israel

    Nour Ibrahim

Authors
  1. Angela Yang
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  2. Dayoung Kim
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  3. Esmond Tsai
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  4. Michael T. Chang
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  5. Christopher M. Low
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  6. Nour Ibrahim
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Nour Ibrahim.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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This article is part of the Topical collection on RHINOLOGY: Nasal Obstruction

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Yang, A., Kim, D., Tsai, E. et al. The Nasal Vestibular Body and Its Role in Nasal Obstruction. Curr Otorhinolaryngol Rep 10, 121–125 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-021-00388-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40136-021-00388-w

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