The anatomy of congenital choanal atresia

Abstract

Congenital choanal atresia is rare. Previous literature has dealt with the diagnosis and management of these patients, but there are no reports that accurately describe the nature of the deformity. This is a presentation of two patients with tomographic demonstration of the abnormality which confirms the surgical descriptions of previous authors. These abnormalities are (1) narrowing of the entire nasal chamber, (2) primary bony obstruction with an area of membranous obstruction, and (3) gross deformity of the vomer.