Which is the single most common cause of a nasal septal perforation in adults today?

• A Chronic cocaine snorting
• B Tuberculosis of the nose
• C Wegener's granulomatosis
• D Previous nasal septal surgery ✓

Explanation

Iatrogenic injury during septoplasty or SMR, usually a bilateral opposing mucosal tear, is now the commonest cause of septal perforation. Trauma, cocaine use, granulomatous disease such as GPA, tuberculosis and leprosy account for the remainder. Infective and inflammatory causes were historically more frequent, which makes them attractive distractors, but surgical injury leads the list in modern series.

Reference: Scott-Brown's Essential Otorhinolaryngology, 2nd ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.