自覚症状なく長期間経過した成人鼻腔異物症例

Unusual foreign body in the nasal cavity in adult

I．はじめに

　鼻腔異物はそのほとんどが10歳以下^1）あるいは5歳以下^2）の小児で問題となり，成人で問題となることは稀である。今回われわれは長期にわたって存在したと考えられる成人での鼻腔異物症例を経験したので，文献的考察を加えて報告する。

　Nasal foreign bodies have frequently been reported in children under 5 years old, whereas adult cases are encountered infrequently in otolaryngologic clinics. In this article, we reported an adult patient with an unusual foreign body in the nasal cavity. The patient presented with apparent rhinolithiasis indicating long-term presence. Under general anesthesia, the foreign body was endoscopically removed along with the inferior turbinate to which it was attached. Otolaryngologists should keep in mind the possible presence of foreign body even in adults.