Turbinate hypertrophy following COVID-19 infection masks choanal atresia in adult

Abstract

A 34-year-old female 4 weeks post COVID-19 infection was diagnosed with inferior turbinate hypertrophy and a deviated nasal septum. The patient underwent inferior turbinate bone resection and nasal septoplasty with minimal improvement in nasal obstruction. Upon reevaluation, unilateral choanal atresia was discovered. Subsequent repair of the choanal atresia resolved all complaints of nasal obstruction. This unique presentation of a missed diagnosis of choanal atresia contributes to the idea that a variety of conditions may precede and at times delay the discovery of choanal atresia in adults.

Keywords

• COVID-19
• Choanal atresia
• Turbinate hypertrophy