Nasal obstruction is one of the most common symptoms of the patients encountered in otolaryngological practice. Septal deviation is the major cause of nasal obstruction. Coronal CT shows nasal septal deviation by distance measured from the midline (severity) and height from the nasal floor [1]. There are many other pathologies in the nose and paranasal sinuses responsible for nasal obstruction such as hypertrophied inferior turbinate (HIT), concha bullosa (CB), chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), nasal polyps, mucocele, mucous retention cyst in the paranasal sinus, tumors, adenoid hypertrophy and many more may be associated with septal deviation. This nasal obstruction leads to snoring, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), otological symptoms, headache, facial pain, etc. Physical examination, anterior rhinoscopy (AR) and nasal endoscopy (NE) are considered the “gold standard” to evaluate septal deviation [2]. These examination tools have limitations to find the high and posterior deviations as well as the septal pneumatization. Septal deviation is usually associated with compensatory HIT and CB/paradoxical middle turbinate (PMT). It is not only caused by mucosal hypertrophy, but also by hypertrophy of the inferior and middle turbinate bone [3]. The assistance of preoperative CT scanning can detect those anatomical septal and turbinate variants in details; and is invaluable in the detection of nose and paranasal sinus diseases for its subsequent and effective management [4]. The costs and radiation hazards of CT are used to be considered as an initial additional burden in septal surgery but correction of other variants and pathologies at the same sitting give rise to long term benefits to the patient that prevent second surgery indeed [5]. With the introduction of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the Head-neck region and in oral-maxillofacial/dentistry, the costs and harmful effects of radiation have reduced to a great extent [6]. The advent of nasal endoscope has revolutionized the diagnosis and treatment modalities of nose and paranasal sinus diseases and has widened the horizon of rhinology [7] [8]. Lanza et al. and H. Stammberger initially described the application of endoscopic technique for the correction of septal deformity in 1991 [9]. Nasal endoscope has the advantage to deal in complex deformities particularly high and posterior septal deviation resulting better septal correction and thus is gaining its popularity. Endoscope also aids in limited septal resection and removes ancillary sinonasal abnormalities thus more patient benefit is achieved [10] [11].

The aim of this study is to evaluate the advantage of preoperative computed tomography (CT) scanning in endoscopic septoplasty.

168 patients of nasal septal deviation were included in the study in the Bangladesh Medical College and Popular Medical College Specialized Hospitals from 2015 to 2018. Physical examination, anterior rhinoscopic and diagnostic nasal endoscopic examination was done in all patients after taking proper history in the ENT outpatient department. 168 patients were included with different types of septal deviation. Preoperative CT scanning both coronal, axial and sagittal view with 3 mm section was taken in all 168. Prior to CT all patients were asked to blow their nose. Endoscopic septoplasty was done in all 168 patients under general anesthesia. The patient who needed ancillary procedures with endoscopic septoplasty was recorded and presented in the result section. Their ages ranged between 10 to 70 years; 108 male and 60 female respectively.

Study design

· Study type: A prospective study

· Study period: From 2015 to 2018

· Study place:

Bangladesh Medical College Hospital

Popular Medical College Specialized Hospital

· Study Sample number: 168 patients

· Study population: Age ranged 10 - 70 years

· Evaluation method:

History

Physical examination

Anterior rhinoscopy

Diagnostic nasal endoscopy

Preoperative CT scanning

· Sampling type: Random sampling

Statistical analysis: This was performed using the SPSS statistical software package. P value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Inclusion criteria:

· Obtained informed consent from all patients prior to inclusion in the study.

· Nasal septal deviation without sinonasal pathology.

· Nose blowing prior to CT.

· CT scans of nose and paranasal sinuses with 3-mm cut in coronal, axial and sagittal plane with bone window settings.

Exclusion criteria:

· Patients suffering from rhinosinusitis or nasal polyp, granulomatous diseases of the nose, allergic rhinitis or nasal masses, or with a past history of nasal surgery.

168 patients included in this study. Preoperative CT was done in all patients after proper preparation. All the findings are shown in following tables. Among 168 patients, 35% reported in between 31 to 40 year of age followed by 21 to 31 year shown in Table 1.

Out of 168 patients, 69% belonged to male and female was 31% which is represented in Table 2.

CT scanning was done in all 168, amongst them HIT 32%, CB/PMT 29% and posterior deviation 14% and septal pneumatization 10% were recoded and shown in Table 3.

Nasal septal deviation was associated with maxillary cyst 40%, maxillary sinusitis in 62 (37%) patients, chronic otitis media 27%, otitis media with effusion 20% and frontal sinusitis in 14% which is shown in Table 4.

Table 5 shows the surgical procedures done with endoscopic septoplasty. Only endoscopic septoplasty was carried out in 72 (43%), septoplasty with FESS was done in 50%, and other procedures are plotted in Table 5.

Nasal septal deviation is one of the commonest types of nasal obstruction encountered in otolaryngological practice all over the world and septoplasty is the common performed procedure. The use of endoscope in rhinology has significantly changed the concepts of septal surgery. Patients of nasal obstruction usually reported with the complaints of headache, postnasal rhinorrhea, facial pain, snoring, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), otological and orbital symptoms, upper and lower respiratory tract manifestations for many years. Physical examination, anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy were considered ‘the gold standard’ for diagnosing septal deviation. Computed tomography (CT) can aid in evaluation of the deviated nasal septum from skull base to nasal floor, anatomical variants of the other nasal components and detect the associated sinonasal diseases [12] [13] [14]. The basic objective of endoscopic septoplasty is to relieve the symptom complexes caused by septal deviation and to treat associated pathological findings.

The advantages of preoperative CT prior to endoscopic septoplasty proved definite benefit on functional outcome that has been highlighted in this study. Although its role in the deviated nasal septum is debatable; and some studies have shown that it is unnecessary for the diagnosis and management of deviated septum [5]. Another group of study opined that it significantly influences the surgical management. These studies showed different results and opinions observed in the literature review subjecting computed tomography, septal deviation and septoplasty [5], although it has been aptly emphasized that CT is the “gold standard” in the diagnosis of sinonasal pathologies, opinion differs in the evaluation of septal deviation [5].

The costs and radiation hazards of CT bear an initial additional burden in septal surgery but the added advantages like correction of other anatomical variants and associated pathologies at the same sitting give rise to a long term definite benefit and thus avoid second surgery. With the introduction of Cone-Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) in the Head-neck region and dentistry, the costs and radiation hazards has been reduced to a great extent [6].

In this series, hypertrophied inferior turbinate was found in 39% and underwent turbinoplasty with septoplasty. The bony deformity along with the mucosal hypertrophy of the HIT in the contralateral side of septal deviation became evident on CT and that corresponds most of the published literature [14] [15]. So preoperative CT was useful as a deciding factor to detect the septal deviation and nasal turbinates’ in three dimensional views on the surgical procedures of turbinate treatment with septoplasty.

Physical examination, anterior rhinoscopy and nasal endoscopy are the hall mark to evaluate most of the nasal pathologies. But it has definite limitation in the finding of CB/PMT in its entire length and extension of the mucous hypertrophy and bony overgrowth. The advantage of CT is to evaluate clearly on coronal and axial CT [16]. The mucosal and bony structures of the middle turbinate and the angle of the septum were assessed using radiological analysis before septoplasty to have good result that was documented in this study.

OSA is being increasingly recognized as an important cause of morbidity and mortality around the globe and nasal obstruction accounts 50% of the total resistance of the upper air way resulting this disorder [17]. Nasal obstruction experienced by OSA patients are possibly due to deviated nasal septum, hypertrophied turbinate, chronic rhinosinusitis etc. but nasal septal deviation is one major cause. A high deviation is responsible for nasal obstruction and it is very difficult to recognize by conventional examination. 8 OSA patients were found with high deviation in our series, and that was evaluated in CT scanning. The high deviation of the septum also narrows the frontal recess resulting frontal sinusitis leading to headache [11]. Posterior deviation and septal penumatization are clearly revealed in computed tomography. Correction of the particular areas with preoperative proper planning in septal surgery alleviated symptoms completely and that was found in this series.

The posterior areas of the nasal cavities in the grossly deviated nasal septum or septal spur are practically unable to visualize by physical examination, AR and NE. CT scanning can provide details to the otolaryngologists/radiologists. Thus CT has the advantages to evaluate all those areas including the ostiomeatal complex and the associated paranasal sinus pathologies [18] [19]. In this series, maxillary sinusitis was found in 62 patients’ with deviated nasal septum who needed septoplasty and functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS). CT revealed maxillary antral cyst in 68 patients; and very large cysts occupying 1/2 to 2/3^rd of the maxillary sinus, underwent FESS. Small cysts did not require any surgical intervention. Out of 12 patients between 10 to 20 years of age, 3 patients were below 15 years who had gross anterior septal deviation associated adenoidal hypertrophy. Their symptoms were relieved completely with septoplasty and adenoidectomy.

Many patients report to otolaryngologists with the complaints of ear block due to nasal obstruction and deviated nasal septum is the cause. The association of otitis media with nasal septal deviation has been found on CT scanning. It has been explained that deviation of the nasal septum interferes Eustachian tube function that changes the middle ear pressure and affects pneumatization of the mastoid [20] [21]. CT has the advantages to explore the mastoid, septum and nasopharynx [22] [23]. In our series otitis media with effusion and otitis media were documented in 27% and 20% of patients respectively. Endoscopic septoplasty and myringotomy in OME patients were carried out with a remarkable result. Chronic otitis media was also given special attention with septoplasty.

Preoperative CT of the nasal septum and its subsequent finding in the present study has a great advantage prior to surgery. Although it is expensive but patient enjoys a long term functional outcome. The advent of CBCT in the head neck and oral maxillofacial surgery draws special attention to minimize costs and radiation hazards than of computed tomography.

Because of the financial constraints, radiation hazards and fear of doing CT scan in a box, collection of a large sample was not possible in this study. It is also intuitive that small samples might not be representative of the whole population so further large scale study should require to determine more results and outcome.

The authors have no funding, financial relationships, or conflicts of interest to disclose.

Islam, Md.A., Mamoon, T.B., Milki, F.U., Chowdhury, N.H., Khan, S.R., Rahman, A.S.M. and Mohammad, T. (2020) Advantages of Computed Tomography (CT) in Endoscopic Septopasty. International Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, 9, 185-193. https://doi.org/10.4236/ijohns.2020.96022