Acromegaly--the mucosal changes within the nose and paranasal sinuses

The presence of upper respiratory tract obstruction in patients with acromegaly has been described. The main sites for obstruction were previously thought to be laryngeal and oropharyngeal. This study reviews 65 patients with acromegaly and 27 patients with a prolactinoma treated by trans-ethmoidal hypophysectomy. The results confirmed a very high incidence of polyp formation and mucosal hypertrophy within both the sphenoid (88 per cent) and ethmoidal (62 per cent) sinuses of the acromegalic patients. The histological appearances of the mucosal hypertrophy and polyposis confirmed no specific features attributable to acromegaly. Patient age and serum H.G.H. level do not appear to be significant factors. These findings within the para-nasal sinuses have never previously been reported.