Atrophic rhinitis, also known as ozaena, is a chronic inflammation of the nasal mucosa that results in atrophy, squamous metaplasia, and crust formation. It is characterized by the atrophy of the nasal mucosa and turbinates, scanty viscid secretions, loss of ciliated columnar epithelium, and crust formation. The pathophysiology involves periarteritis and endarteritis of the nasal mucosa, decreasing blood supply and resulting in atrophy of mucous glands, epithelium, and metaplasia of the ciliated columnar epithelium. Treatment involves antibiotics, estrogen therapy, surgical procedures to narrow the nasal cavity and increase lubrication, and sal

1. ATROPHIC RHINITIS
(OZAENA)

2. • DEFINITION: It is a chronic inflammation of
the nasal mucosa resulting in atrophy ,
squamous metaplasia and crust formation
due to periarterial fibrosis and end arteritis.
• Key-points:
– Atrophy of the nasal mucosa and turbinate.
– Scanty viscid secretion
– Loss of ciliated columnar epithelium
– Crust formation

3. • TYPE:
– Primary
– Secondary: infection or surgery
• Long-standing purulent sinusitis.
• Iatrogenic: Radical turbinectomy,
maxillectomy, post-radiotherapy.
• Tuberculosis, Syphilis, Leprosy,
Rhinoscleroma.
• Deviated nasal septum (atrophy in
wider nasal cavity).
• FORM:
– Rhinitis sicca : mild form
– Severe form : ozaena
• Turbinante atrophy
• Squamous metaplasia
• Degeneration of goblet cells
• Secondary growth of saprophytes

4. Periarteritis
+
endarteritis
of nasal
mucosa
Decreased
blood
supply
Mucous
glands
decrease in
number and
size along
with
atrophy of
the
epithelium
Metaplasia
of the
ciliated
columnar
epithelium
to
squamous
epithelium
Loss of cilia
and
decreased
secretions
Stagnation
and stasis
of viscid
secretions
Growth of
viscid
organisms
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY:

5. ETIOLOGY
PRIMARY : Not known

6. ETIOLOGY
PRIMARY : Not known
1. Developmental:
– Congenitally spacious nasal cavity
– Poor pneumatization of maxillary antrum
2. Heredity: 30% cases autosomal inheritance; 67% = Dominant, 33% = Recessive.
3. Endocrinal: estrogen progesterone imbalance, common in female after puberty; Symptoms
aggravated due to estrogen deficiency.
4. Race: white & yellow races >>> negroes
5. Malnutrition: chronic iron deficiency anemia, vitamin A & D deficiency
6. Chronic inflammation
7. Nasal and sinus suppuration: Klebsiella ozaenae (Perez & Abel bacillus), Coccobacillus
foetides ozaena, Bacillus mucosus, Diphtheroids, Haemophilus influenzae, Proteus vulgaris, E.
coli, Staphylocococci & Streptococci.
8. More common: Blood group O and B
9. Immunological factor: Altered cellular immunity and loss of tolerance of nasal tissue may
trigger destructive autoimmune process on nasal mucosa.
10. Reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) causes vasodilatation & hyperaemic
decalcification of turbinates followed by vasoconstriction.
11. Surfactant deficiency in nasal secretion: ciliary dysfunction + stasis of nasal secretions.

7. CLINICAL FEATURES
• Age : Onset after puberty, 14-16 years
• Sex: more in females
• Race: Rare in negroes

8. SYMPTOMS
• Nasal obstruction
• Crusting
• Anosmia
• Headache
• Epistaxis
• Foetor
SIGNS
• Crust
• Greenish discolouration
• Roomy nose
• Atrophied turbinates
• Choana/ nasopharynx
visible
• Pus in the middle meatus
• Posterior rhinoscopy
MERCIFUL
ANOSMIA

9. Causes of Anosmia
• Loss of olfactory neural elements
• Thick secretion & crusts over olfactory area
• Degeneration of secretory glands → scanty mucous for dissolving odoriferous
materials
Causes of nasal obstruction
• Blunting of sensory nerve endings
• Crust formation
• Lack of eddy current formation in roomy cavity

11. INVESTIGATIONS
1. Radiology: X ray PNS, CT scan of the PNS
2. Hematology: ESR, Sugar, Estrogen, Progesterone,
Serology; Serum iron, vitamin-A/ D & protein levels-
malnutrition
3. Pathology: Nasal swab- smear or HPE of nasal mucosa.
4. Saccharine test: ed nasal muco-ciliary clearance time.
5. Culture & sensitivity of nasal discharge.

13. There is a metaplasia of columnar or
ciliated epithelium to squamous
epithelium with decrease in the
number of compound alveolar
glands. Histopathologically, there
are 2 types of atrophic rhinitis:
Type I: Characterized by endarteritis
and periarteritis, which may be as a
result of chronic infection. These
patients may benefit by vasodilator
effect of estrogen therapy.
Type II: Characterized by
vasodilation of capillaries which
may become worse by estrogen
therapy.
HISTOPATHOLOGY

14. D/D
1. Syphilis
2. Lupus
3. Leprosy
4. Tuberculosis
5. Rhinoscleroma
6. Sinusitis
D/D for ozaena D/D for dry nose
Atrophic rhinitis Atrophic rhinitis
Purulent sinusitis Rhinitis sicca
Nasal foreign body Radiotherapy
Rhinitis caseosa Sjogren’s syndrome
Malignancy

15. SPECIFIC INVESTIGATIONS TO RULE OUT OTHER D/Ds:
1. Chest X-ray: T.B., bronchiectasis, lung abscess
2. Serology for syphilis: V.D.R.L., T.P.H.A., T.P.I.
3. Sputum for AFB, Mantoux test: T.B.
4. Nasal smear study: Leprosy
5. Complement fixation test & biopsy: Rhinoscleroma

16. COMPLICATION
• Nasal myiasis
• Sinusitis

17. TREATMENT

18. ACTION OF PLACENTAL EXTRACT
Progesterone
leads to
hyperplasia
of nasal
mucosa &
glandular
secretion
Estrogen
leads to
vasodilatation
Biogenic
stimulator of
metabolic &
regenerative
process
Intra-
placental
serum boosts
up immunity
Mechanical
narrowing of
nasal
passage

19. SURGICAL TREATMENT
• Aim:
– Decrease size of nasal cavity
– Decrease air entry
– Increase lubrication
1. Narrowing of nasal cavity:
a) At lateral wall:
i. Dermofat graft
ii. Bone cartilage graft
iii. Synthetic teflon paste or acrylic mould
b) At floor: placental graft submucosally
c) Young’s and modified young’s operation
2. Transplantation of parotid duct

20. TYPES OF SURGERY
NASAL
CLOSURE
Young
Modified
Young
VOLUME
REDUCTION
Lautenslager
Wilson
Sublabial
implants
Vestibuloplasty
DENERVATION
Cervical
sympathectomy
Stellate
ganglion
block
Sphenopalatine
ganglion block
SALIVARY
IRRIGATION
Parotid duct
implantation

21. AIM OF SURGERY

23. ADVANTAGES OF MODIFIED
YOUNG’S SURGERY