Posterior Inferior Turbinate Hypertrophy (PITH)

Abstract

Hypertrophy of the soft tissue of the posterior inferior turbinate (PITH) may be observed during nasal endoscopy, although the clinical significance is not understood. We report a cross-sectional study of consecutive new patients undergoing baseline nasal endoscopy in a tertiary rhinology clinic. Subjects completed 22-Item Sinonasal Outcome Test (SNOT-22) and Nasal Obstruction Symptom Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaires. Of 391 subjects screened, PITH was present in 62 (15.9%), with a female predominance. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis and chronic rhinosinusitis was comparable between PITH and non-PITH groups. Nonpurulent exudate flowing from the posterior inferior turbinate into the nasopharynx was more prevalent in association with PITH (83.9% vs 14.3%, P < .001). Mean SNOT-22 scores and NOSE scores were not significantly different between PITH and non-PITH groups. This preliminary study suggests that PITH is a common physical finding with unclear etiology and should be the subject of further investigation.

Keywords: nasal endoscopy; turbinate.