Medical Student University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Manchester, Connecticut, United States
Disclosure(s):
Morgan Brown: No relevant relationships to disclose.
Introduction: Osseous metaplasia is rarely encountered in the head and neck region, particularly in nasal polyps. This report outlines a case of unilateral sinonasal poylposis with fragments of osseous metaplasia to add to the existing literature on this unfamiliar condition.
Methods: This case report summarizes the presentation, radiographic findings, surgical intervention, histological findings and outcomes in an adult with unilateral sinonasal polyposis with areas of osseous metaplasia. All medical therapy and endoscopic surgical interventions were performed in 2022 and the report was written in 2023.
Results: The mechanism behind heterotopic bone formation occurs in the head and neck region is poorly understood, with a main theory pointing to previous trauma as an inciting factor in metaplastic activity. This case outlines the need for a better understanding of this condition, as patients like the one reported here do not always have a history of previous sinus surgery or other traumatic injury to the sinonasal cavities. This benign condition must be distinguished from other aggressive diseases with similar clinical pictures and diagnostic findings. Due to its rarely reported nature, it is important to add to the existing literature on this condition.
Conclusions: Osseous metaplasia in nasal polyps is rarely described in the literature, with few case reports and a vague understanding of the underlying mechanisms that promote heterotopic normal bone formation in the sinonasal soft tissue. This report outlines the variety in clinical presentation of patients with sinonasal polyposis with osseous metaplasia and the key radiographic findings that can help differentiate it from other sinonasal pathologies.
