Nose, Turbinate - Atrophy

Atrophy of the turbinats (Figure 2 and Figure 4; compare with controls shown in Figure 1 and Figure 3) can occur after exposure to highly irritating agents and is most commonly seen in chronic inhalation studies. It is typically accompanied or preceded by epithelial lesions, such as necrosis or inflammation. It may be accompanied by other bone lesions, such as hyperostosis (increased bone), necrosis of the turbinate bone, or perforation of the nasal septum. Inflammation and epithelial lesions may also be present. The pathogenesis of turbinate atrophy has not been elucidated, but it has been hypothesized that cytokines released by epithelial cells and/or inflammatory cells during chronic inflammation shift the balance between bone resorption and new bone production toward osteoclastic activity (and perhaps decreased osteoblastic activity, as well), resulting in a net loss of bone. Males are reported to be more susceptible to atrophy of the turbinates than are females.