Non–sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache: a ten-year experience

Abstract 

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the role of anatomical abnormalities in non–sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache and to evaluate response to surgery.

Materials and methods

Between January 1995 and December 2004, 71 patients were diagnosed with non–sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache preoperatively and treated with endoscopic sinus surgery and/or septoplasty if other underlying diseases could be ruled out and if long-term medical treatment failed. Data from this group were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

Multiple sinonasal anomalies were noted by endoscopy and sinus computed tomographic scans in the 66 patients in the study. These included nasal septum deviation in 46 (69.7%), concha bullosum in 33 (48.5%), and Haller cell in 11 (16.7%). Thirty of the patients with nasal septum deviation needed surgical intervention. Fifty-four (81.8%) of the 66 patients in the study showed significant improvement after surgery and did not require further medical therapy.

Conclusions

Our experience demonstrates that non–sinusitis-related rhinogenous headache can be significantly minimized with surgical management, as long as a precise identification of the etiologic anatomical factor can be made.