Rhinolith: An incidental radiographic finding

Abstract

Rhinoliths are foreign bodies composed of mineralised deposits in the nasal cavity that are rarely encountered in routine dental practice. The current report presents a case of a 77-year-old female patient who visited a dental treatment centre for a routine dental check-up and prophylaxis. On the clinical examination, the patient did not report any breathing difficulty, nasal obstruction, or any form of discharge. Panoramic radiography showed a horizontally magnified radiopaque structure in the right nasal fossa region. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) revealed a hyperdense entity with a laminated presentation in the right nasal fossa. The hyperdense entity was diagnosed as a rhinolith based on the radiographic findings. Although the patient was asymptomatic, a referral was made to an ear, nose, and throat surgeon for a further evaluation. This report highlights the importance of CBCT imaging in the diagnosis of soft-tissue calcifications. (Imaging Sci Dent 2021; 51: 333-6)