NASAL MASS OR SWELLING

Although anatomy may assist somewhat in developing the differential here, it is probably an unnecessary exercise because the mnemonic MINT will bring to mind virtually all the etiologies. M—Malformation reminds one of the broad nose of cretinism, Down syndrome, gargoylism, myxedema, and acromegaly. I—Inflammation suggests carbuncles, cellulitis, syphilis, acne rosacea with rhinophyma, Wegener midline granuloma, and granulomas from tuberculosis, aspergillosis, rhinosporidiosis, mucormycosis, and other chronic infections. N—Neoplasms suggest carcinomas of the external nares, squamous cell carcinoma of the nasal mucosa (such as Schmincke tumors), and nasal polyps secondary to allergic rhinitis. T—Trauma reminds one of fractures, dislocations, and contusions, although these diagnoses are usually obvious.

Approach to the Diagnosis

The diagnosis is not difficult except in the case of granulomas and carcinomas, when skillful biopsy and culture are necessary. In Wegener midline granuloma, a search for alveolitis and glomerulonephritis will help to determine the diagnosis. Serum for ANCA antibodies is often diagnostic.

Other Useful Tests

1. CBC (infection)
2. Nasal smear and culture
3. Tuberculin test (tuberculosis)
4. Acid-fast bacillus (AFB) smear and culture (tuberculosis)
5. VDRL test (syphilis)
6. Fungal smear and culture (mucormycosis)
7. X-ray of skull and sinuses (granuloma, neoplasm)
8. CT scan of brain and sinuses (sinusitis, neoplasm, granuloma)
9. Nasal smear for eosinophils (nasal polyps)
10. Nasopharyngoscopy (polyps, carcinoma)
11. Serum immunoglobulin E (IgE) level (allergic rhinitis)
12. Radioallergosorbent test (RAST) (allergic rhinitis)
13. Allergy skin testing (nasal polyps)

Book Source Details

• Book Title: Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care
• Author(s): R. Douglas Collins MD, FACP
• Year of Publication: 2007
• Copyright Details: Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care, Copyright © 2007 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.

Other Book Chapters Related to Nose symptoms

Read excerpts from these other book chapters related to Nose symptoms:

Copyright Details: Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care, Copyright © 2008 Williams & Wilkins.

More About Causes of Nose symptoms

• Back to symptom: Nose symptoms: Introduction (review 1244 causes)
• Next Book Extract About Nose symptoms: Medications causing Nose symptoms
• All Book Extracts: All Online Book Extracts for Nose symptoms

More About This Book: Title: Differential Diagnosis in Primary Care Authors: R. Douglas Collins MD, FACP Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins Copyright: 2007 ISBN: 0-7817-6812-8

Rate This Website

What do you think about the features of this website? Take our user survey and have your say:

Website User Survey

Medical Tools & Articles:

Next articles:

• Medications causing Nose symptoms
• Videos relating to Nose symptoms
• Diagnosis Checklist for Nose symptoms
• Types of Nose symptoms
• News about Nose symptoms

Tools & Services:

• Bookmark this page
• Take a survey relating to Nose symptoms
• Symptom Search
• Symptom Checker
• Medical Dictionary
• Give your feedback

Medical Articles:

• Disease & Treatments Search
• Misdiagnosis Center
• Full list of interesting articles

Forums & Message Boards

• Ask or answer a question at the Boards:
• I cannot get a diagnosis. Please help.
• Tell us your medical story.
• Share your misdiagnosis story.
• What is the best treatment for my condition?
• See all the Boards.

Enter your search terms Submit search form
Search The Web Search wrongdiagnosis.com

Common Health Mistakes

Symptom
Checker

Search Specialists by State and City