Rhinolith
Stone formation in the nasal cavity
- Forms around the nucleus of a small foreign body
- Slow deposition of calcium and magnesium salts
- (Otolith - calcium carbonate structure in saccule or utricle of inner ear )
- Unilateral nasal obstruction
- Foul-smelling discharge - often bloodstained
- Frank epistaxis
- Neuralgic pain
- On examination - stony hard brittle grey brown mass seen in nasal cavity
- Sometimes surrounded by granulations
- Removal under general anaesthesia
- Larger ones needs to broken before removed
- Large masses might require lateral rhinotomy
