The article examines the objective, findings, and clinical context described in Rhinolith may hide intranasal ectopic tooth.
Approach:
Case: A 45-year-old man had six months of foul-smelling right-sided nasal discharge and intermittent mild epistaxis.
Evaluation: Nasal endoscopy showed a hard, irregular mass partly surrounded by calcified material. Noncontrast CT demonstrated a tooth-like structure with enamel- and dentin-like attenuation and a central pulp cavity, surrounded by calcifications consistent with a rhinoli…
Treatment and follow-up: The ectopic tooth and rhinolith were removed endoscopically. The postoperative course was uneventful.
Key Findings:
CT showed no adjacent bone destruction or extension into neighboring structures.
The patient’s nasal obstruction and discharge resolved, and he remained symptom-free at follow-up.
The report cites a systematic review in which nasal obstruction occurred in 48% of cases; rhinorrhea, facial pain, and epistaxis each occurred in 22%.
Interpretation:
The authors noted that the organized tooth anatomy and central pulp cavity on CT helped distinguish the ectopic tooth from other calcified intranasal lesions.
Limitations:
This is a single-patient case report.
No definitive cause of the ectopic tooth was identified.
Conclusion:
The authors reported that CT characterized the lesion and its relationship to surrounding structures, while endoscopy enabled direct visualization and surgical management. They noted that asymptomatic intranasal ectopic teeth may be observed with regular follow-up.
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