Publication:

Histological correlation of nasal mass: a five year retrospective and prospective study

Background The presence of mass in the nose may seem to be a simple problem; however it raises several issues about the differential diagnosis. The aim of this study is to evaluate the histological profile of nasal masses in the environment.

Methods This is a retrospective and prospective study of nasal masses during a period of five years of patients presenting to the clinician in our hospital.

Results A total of 90 patients were analysed age ranging from 3 to 80 years. Majority of patients were in the second decade. Sex wise distribution showed a male to female ratio of 2.2:1. The main presenting symptom was nasal obstruction seen in 53.30% patients, while proptosis was seen only in malignant lesion. Among a total of 90 lesions in the nasal cavity 81.1% were benign, 15.5 % were malignant and 3.3% were inadequate sample The commonest non neoplastic lesion was nasal polyp which comprised about 83.33% followed by rhinoscleroma, while the commonest benign neoplastic lesion was papilloma and comprised about 42.10% and squamous cell carcinoma was the most common malignant neoplastic lesion in the nasal cavity and comprised about 42.85%. Most patients with benign lesion were in the second decade. Malignant lesions occurred mainly after fifth decade, while inadequacy of sample was seen in the second decade.

Conclusion Males are more commonly affected then females. Nasal obstruction is the commonest symptom Simple inflammatory nasal polyp is still the commonest histological pattern seen while papilloma being the most common benign lesion and squamous cell carcinoma the most common malignant lesion.