Soft tissue intranasal foreign bodies.

Soft tissue intranasal foreign bodies usually present as a well-defined syndrome in children 1 1/2 to 3 years of age who develop a chronic unilateral, purulent, fetid, unexplained rhinorrhea because the foreign material is not discovered in the nose on routine examination. Four cases are presented to document for the first time the anatomic location of soft tissue intranasal foreign bodies which become lodged in the anterior-superior aspect of the nasal cavity between the anterior edge of the middle turbinate and the bridge of the nose. No recurrence has been noted following removal of this material with the hemostat advanced superiorly inside the anterior border of the nose. One case with persistent rhinorrhea developed pneumonia and generalized body odor.