[Treatment of a voluminous rhinophyma].

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to present an advanced case of rhinophyma and to discuss the pathophysiology, clinical presentation and treatment of this pathology.

CASE REPORT

A 75-year-old patient presented to the ENT out-patient department with a large rhinophyma causing nasal obstruction and eating problems in addition to its aesthetic social burden.

RESULTS

The patient was operated under antibiotic coverage. The operated site was left to heal and later covered with a full-thickness skin graft. During the 5-year postoperative follow-up period, there were no complications, no recurrence of the rhinophyma, and the patient retained a good aesthetic result.

CONCLUSION

Rhinophyma is the highest of the four grades of rosacea progression. The diagnosis is usually clinical. Surgical treatment is reserved for the advanced nodular forms and is performed under antibiotic coverage in order to prevent the risk of chondrolysis of the nasal cartilages.