[Nasal septal perforation and systemic disease].

INTRODUCTION

Nasal septal perforations are mainly due to trauma. Our review highlights systemic diseases leading to this disorder.

CURRENT KNOWLEDGE AND KEY POINTS

Various systemic diseases may be responsible of nasal septal perforation: Wegener's granulomatosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, antiphospholipid syndrome, sarcoidosis, cryoglobulinaemia. But, very few data are available about the frequency of septum nasal perforation in each disease. Clinical manifestations are numerous and not specific: obstruction, epistaxis, postnasal discharge, whistling, crusting. Asymptomatic forms are frequent. Biopsy of nasal septum is poorly useful for the diagnosis except when granuloma or vasculitis is found. Pathophysiologic mechanisms of nasal septal perforation are ischemic, infectious or inflammatory.

FUTURE PROSPECTS AND PROJECTS

Systemic disease may be suspected in unclear nasal septal perforation. More, in systemic disease, even when symptoms are absent, intranasal examination is required.