The clinical significance, diagnosis and treatment of bulla formation in the nose.

Nasal stenosis as a result of a bulla formation in the middle concha and uncinate process, together with hypertrophy of the bulla ethmoidalis, is described on the basis of 4 case histories. The condition obstructs drainage from the paranasal sinuses and produces an unphysiological airstream through the nose. This results in a disease complex which is dominated, in particular, by nasal stenosis, a feeling of pressure with radiating pains to the neighbouring regions, together with chronic infection of the upper and lower airways. It appears to be difficult to make the diagnosis clinically and from routine x-rays. The importance of the differential diagnosis from nasal polyps and mucosal hypertropy is emphasized. It is suggested that the term "bulla cavi nasi" by employed as a common name for bulla formation in the nose.