Concha bullosa
Concha bullosa (plural: conchae bullosae) (also known as middle turbinate pneumatization) is a common finding and although associated with deviation of the nasal septum, it is usually of little clinical importance.
On this page:
Epidemiology
Concha bullosa is a normal variant and is one of the most common variations of sinonasal anatomy, it is identified in ~35% (range 14-53%) of patients 1. The wide range of prevalence is attributable to variability in the definition used for the diagnosis (see below).
Clinical presentation
In the vast majority of cases, these variants are asymptomatic. Although some studies have suggested a relationship between a concha bullosa and sinus disease, it is probably not the case, with the incidence of sinusitis being similar in patients with or without a concha 1. The air space within the turbinate is susceptible to the same pathologies as other sinuses, and may thus become infected, obstructed (mucocele), or be the site of malignancy.
Conchae bullosae are associated with deviation of the nasal septum (see below) which has itself been in some studies associated with an increase incidence of sinus disease 1,5.
Radiographic features
Although in most instances concha bullosa refers specifically to pneumatization of the middle concha, similar appearances may be occasionally seen of either the superior or inferior conchae.
Concha bullosa of the middle turbinate can be divided into one of three types:
- lamellar: pneumatization of the vertical lamella of the concha (many authors do not regard this as a concha bullosa) 1
- bulbous: pneumatization of the bulbous segment
- extensive (total): pneumatization of both lamellar and bulbous parts
They are associated with deviation of the nasal septum away from the concha bullosa, with preserved surrounding air spaces (suggesting developmental asymmetry rather than mass effect)
It is worth noting that a concha bullosa and a deviated septum may interfere with transnasal surgery and is thus a relevant finding on imaging of the region for other reasons 6.
Treatment and prognosis
As most are asymptomatic and the relationship between a concha bullosa and sinusitis is controversial, in general, no treatment is required.
If infected or large and associated with ipsilateral maxillary sinus obstruction resection may be undertaken, in which case the lateral wall of the concha is resected, leaving the medial wall intact to maintain the middle turbinate 6.
Related Radiopaedia articles
Anatomy: Head and neck
- skeleton of the head and neck
-
cranial vault
- scalp (mnemonic)
- fontanelle
-
sutures
- calvarial
- facial
- frontozygomatic suture
- frontomaxillary suture
- frontolacrimal suture
- frontonasal suture
- temporozygomatic suture
- zygomaticomaxillary suture
- parietotemporal suture (parietomastoid suture)
- occipitotemporal suture (occipitomastoid suture)
- sphenofrontal suture
- sphenozygomatic suture
- spheno-occipital suture (not a true suture)
- lacrimomaxillary suture
- nasomaxillary suture
- internasal suture
- basal/internal
- skull landmarks
- frontal bone
- temporal bone
- parietal bone
- occipital bone
- skull base (foramina)
-
facial bones
- midline single bones
- paired bilateral bones
- cervical spine
- hyoid bone
- laryngeal cartilages
-
cranial vault
- muscles of the head and neck
- muscles of the tongue (mnemonic)
- muscles of mastication
-
muscles of facial expression
- occipitalis muscle
- circumorbital and palpebral muscles
- nasal muscles
- buccolabial muscles
- elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
- levator labii superioris alaeque nasalis muscle
- levator labii superioris muscle
- zygomaticus major muscle
- zygomaticus minor muscle
- malaris muscle
- levator anguli oris muscle
- risorius muscle
- depressors, retractors and evertors of the lower lip
- depressor labii inferioris muscle
- depressor anguli oris muscle
- mentalis muscle
- compound sphincter
- orbicularis oris muscle
- incisivus superior muscle
- incisivus inferior muscle
- muscle of mastication:
- elevators, retractors and evertors of the upper lip
- muscles of the middle ear
- orbital muscles
- muscles of the soft palate
- pharyngeal muscles
- suprahyoid muscles
- infrahyoid muscles
- intrinsic muscles of the larynx
- muscles of the neck
- accessory muscles of the neck
- deep cervical fascia
-
deep spaces of the neck
- anterior cervical space
- buccal space
- carotid space
- danger space
- deep cervical fascia
- infratemporal fossa
- masticator space
- parapharyngeal space
- stylomandibular tunnel
- parotid space
- pharyngeal (superficial) mucosal space
- perivertebral space
- posterior cervical space
- pterygopalatine fossa
- retropharyngeal space
- suprasternal space (of Burns)
- visceral space
- surgical triangles of the neck
- orbit
- ear
- paranasal sinuses
- nose
- oral cavity
- pharynx
- larynx
- viscera of the neck
- blood supply of the head and neck
-
arterial supply
-
common carotid artery
- carotid body
- carotid bifurcation
- subclavian artery
- variants
-
common carotid artery
- venous drainage
-
arterial supply
- innervation of the head and neck
-
cranial nerves
- olfactory nerve (CN I)
- optic nerve (CN II)
- oculomotor nerve (CN III)
- trochlear nerve (CN IV)
-
trigeminal nerve (CN V) (mnemonic)
- trigeminal ganglion
- ophthalmic division
- maxillary division
- mandibular division
- abducens nerve (CN VI)
- facial nerve (CN VII)
-
vestibulocochlear nerve (CN VIII)
- vestibular ganglion (Scarpa's ganglion)
- glossopharyngeal nerve (CN IX)
-
vagus nerve (CN X)
- superior laryngeal nerve
- recurrent laryngeal nerve (inferior laryngeal nerve)
- (spinal) accessory nerve (CN XI)
- hypoglossal nerve (CN XII)
- parasympathetic ganglia of the head and neck
- greater occipital nerve
- third occipital nerve
-
cervical plexus
- muscular branches
- longus capitis
- longus colli
- scalenes
- geniohyoid
- thyrohyoid
-
ansa cervicalis
- omohyoid (superior and inferior bellies separately)
- sternothyroid
- sternohyoid
- phrenic nerve
- contribution to the accessory nerve (CN XI)
- cutaneous branches
- muscular branches
- brachial plexus
- pharyngeal plexus
-
cranial nerves
- lymphatic drainage of the head and neck
- embryological development of the head and neck