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The incidence of concha bullosa: a retrospective radiologic study

  • Rhinology
  • Published:
European Archives of Oto-Rhino-Laryngology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Aim

This study was conducted to discuss the incidence, directions, and types of concha bullosa using studies in the literature.

Materials and methods

The images of patients who presented to the ENT clinic with different ENT symptoms in the last 7 years and had paranasal sinus tomography were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

The study consisted of a total of 3133 patients, including 1534 females (48.96%) and 1599 males (51.03%). The age range of the cases was between 12 and 85 years, and the mean age was 57.25 years. Middle concha bullosa was detected in 1402 (44.74%) of the cases. Of these cases, it was determined that 320 (22.82%) had right, 311 (22.18%) had left, and 771 (54.99%) had bilateral middle concha bullosa. Of middle types of concha bullosa, lamellar type concha bullosa was detected in 575 (41.01%) patients, bulbous type in 363 (25.89%), and extensive type in 464 (33.09%). Of the cases with lamellar type middle concha bullosa, it was found that 130 (22.60%) had right side, 105 (18.26%) had left side, and 340 (59.13%) had bilateral lamellar type middle concha bullosa. Of the cases that were determined to have bulbous type middle concha bullosa, 97 (26.72%) had right side, 99 (27.27%) had left side, and 167 (46.00%) had bilateral bulbous type middle concha bullosa. Of the cases that were determined to have extensive type middle concha bullosa, 93 (20.04%) had right side, 107 (23.06%) had left side, and 264 (56.89%) had bilateral extensive type middle concha bullosa. The incidence of superior concha bullosa was determined in 487 (15.54%) of 3133 cases. Of these, bilateral superior concha bullosa was detected in 332 (68.17%) cases and unilateral in 155 (31.82%) cases.

Conclusions

Our study has the largest case series among studies investigating the incidence of concha bullosa. The incidence of concha bullosa appears to be common in the community. Additional studies may be useful to determine whether its high incidence is associated with other sinus pathologies and the extent of its effect on other rhinological complaints.

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Funding

The author have no competing financial interests in relation to the wok described. An honourarium, grant, or other form of payment was not given to anyone to produce the manuscript.  

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, University of Alaaddin Keykubat, Training and Research Hospital, 07400, Alanya, Antalya, Turkey

    Murat Kar

  2. Otorhinolaryngology Clinic, University of Health Science, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey

    Mustafa Altıntaş

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  1. Murat Kar
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  2. Mustafa Altıntaş
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Correspondence to Murat Kar.

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Kar, M., Altıntaş, M. The incidence of concha bullosa: a retrospective radiologic study. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 280, 731–735 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-022-07552-y

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