# A prospective histopathological analysis of the inferior turbinate: which functional parts should be preserved during turbinate surgery?

## TL;DR

This study identifies which parts of the inferior turbinate should be preserved during surgery to maintain nasal function and reduce complications.

## Contribution

The study provides new histopathological insights into the functional regions of the hypertrophic inferior turbinate.

## Key findings

- The posterior end of the inferior turbinate has the highest normal epithelium percentage and cilia count.
- Patients with IT hypertrophy show increased basement membrane and vessel wall thickness.
- Preserving the posterior end during surgery is crucial for maintaining nasal function.

## Abstract

•Histopathological analysis of IT hypertrophy remains insufficient.•Patients with IT hypertrophy had higher basement membrane thickness.•The posterior end of IT had the highest normal epithelium percentage.

Histopathological analysis of IT hypertrophy remains insufficient.

Patients with IT hypertrophy had higher basement membrane thickness.

The posterior end of IT had the highest normal epithelium percentage.

Inferior turbinate (IT) hypertrophy-induced chronic nasal obstruction is one of the most common problems in rhinology. However, the histopathological analysis of the hypertrophic IT is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the histological changes and the most functional areas of the IT to assist otolaryngologists with improving and modifying surgical techniques and minimizing potential complications.

This prospective, cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the contribution of hypertrophic IT to nasal obstruction. For the analysis, a total of 38 adult patients (IT hypertrophy group and non-IT hypertrophy [control] group) were enrolled, and 131 specimens were obtained during the surgical procedures (IT hypertrophy group, endoscopic submucosal turbinoplasty and septoplasty; non-IT hypertrophy group, septoplasty). Intraoperative samples were collected from four sites of the IT to determine the dimensions, composition, and possible pathological changes in each individual site. The samples were analyzed using light microscopy.

A comparison of the four sites of the IT in the IT hypertrophy group showed that the posterior end had the highest normal epithelium percentage, and cilia count. This suggests that preserving the functional part of the IT during surgery is crucial. Furthermore, a comparison of both groups in terms of basement membrane thickness and vessel wall thickness (p = 0.005 and p = 0.03, respectively) showed significant differences.

Our findings can assist otolaryngologists select the most appropriate surgical procedures for IT hypertrophy. In addition, they advocate the importance of preserving the functional part of the IT during surgical intervention to achieve an efficiently working IT and avoid undesirable complications while improving the nasal airway passage.

Level 3.