[Individual nasal endoscopic surgery for non-sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache: our experience in 68 cases].

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the role of anatomical abnormalities in non-sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache and to evaluate effects of nasal endoscopic surgery for non-sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache.

METHODS

Sixty-eight patients diagnosed as non-sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache were selected in this study. They were treated with nasal endoscopic surgery after failed long-term medical treatment. Data from this group were analyzed retrospectively.

RESULTS

Multiple anatomical abnormalities were noted by endoscopy and sinus computed tomographic scans in the 66 patients. These included nasal septum deviation in 46 cases (67.6%), middle turbinate gasfication in 20 cases (29.4%), protruding ethmoid bulla or uncinate processor in 10 cases (14.7%) and abnormal middle turbinate in 8 case (11.8%). Fifty-six (82.4%) patients showed significant improvement after surgery.

CONCLUSIONS

Non-sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache can be significantly minimized with individual nasal endoscopic surgery, as long as a precise identification of the etiologic anatomical factor can be made.