Hereditary characteristic of isolated congenital vomer aplasia

Malformation of the inner nose is often found in conjunction with different types of cleft palate or may be seen with severe and complex craniofacial anomalies. Among such malformations, however, isolated vomer aplasia is rarely reported in the literature. This study sets forth our findings that congenital vomeral defect of the nasal septum is an isolated disorder with hereditary characteristics. Between 2001 and 2009, nine cases of isolated congenital vomeral bone defect were detected on endoscopic examination of patients referred to our clinic with nasal and otologic complaints. The files of these patients were reviewed and vomer aplasia was identified as an isolated hereditary condition with concomitant sinonasal symptoms. The defect of the posteroinferior part of the nasal septum was defined as a genetic disease presenting with no significant medical problems. Chromosomal analysis of these patients may help to reveal the relationship of this anomaly with different malformations of the maxillofacial complex.