Intranasal foreign body

Introduction A 54-year-old female patient presented with purulent anterior rhinorrhoea on the right side that had been present for 8 weeks. Conservative therapy with Sinupret, decongestant nasal spray and antibiotics had been unsuccessful. The right nasal airway had been obstructed for years. Previous operations or possible endonasal foreign bodies were denied.

Methods A computed tomography (CT) scan of the paranasal sinuses showed a hyperdense, bone-dense structure filling the right main nasal cavity almost completely, consistent with a rhinolith. In the anterior part there was a hypodense inclusion. The removal of the mass was performed under general anaesthesia. After fragmentary removal of the calcareous masses, the hypodense structure in the CT was revealed to be an enclosed plastic pearl.

Results After removal of the mass, the patient was symptom-free. Retrospectively, she stated that she had had right nasal obstruction since childhood. However, she could not remember the insertion of the plastic bead.

Conclusion Intranasal foreign bodies can persist, as in the present case, with few or no symptoms over a long period of time, up to several decades, accumulate sediment-like calcareous masses and thus lead to significant complaints in the course of time.

Publication History

Article published online:
12 May 2023