Unilateral secondary middle turbinate and ipsilateral bifid inferior turbinate with presence of uncinate process: Is it true bifid inferior turbinate?

Abstract

Anatomical variations of the nasal turbinate, such as secondary middle turbinate (SMT) and bifid inferior turbinate (BIT), are sporadic. In most cases, SMT and BIT are generally bilateral. Moreover, the uncinate process is unusual in BIT because it is widely acknowledged that BIT could be an abnormality of the uncinate process. However, we found an unusual case of a 19-year-old female with 2 compartments on the right nostril since birth. CT scan and nasal endoscopy revealed unilateral SMT and ipsilateral BIT with the presence of an uncinate process. Therefore, considering the different origins of the uncinate process and inferior turbinate, BIT with the uncinate process can be referred to as true BIT, while BIT without the uncinate process can be referred to as false, double, or accessory inferior turbinate.

Keywords

• Secondary middle turbinate
• Bifid inferior turbinate
• Uncinate process
• Anatomical variations
• Nasal turbinate