Bilateral choanal atresia in an adult - management with mitomycin C and without stents: a case report

BACKGROUND: A 23-year-old female patient presented to the outpatient clinic with bilateral nasal obstruction and discharge since birth. Endoscopic examination and paranasal sinus tomography revealed bilateral choanal atresia. She did not have any other congenital abnormalities. Her parents reported cyanosis in childhood that worsened during feeding and improved during crying; however, they had not visited a physician. She did not have remarkable complaints during early childhood or adolescence. METHODS: The patient was operated under general anesthesia, using a 0° 4 mm rigid endoscope. The orifice was widened with a curette and, to prevent stenosis, mitomycin-C (1 mg/ml) was applied topically to the nasopharyngeal orifice for 5 minutes. No stents were placed. RESULTS: Follow-up evaluation at postoperative 12th month showed that her symptoms improved significantly and, on endoscopic examination, both choanae remained patent.