Rhinolith of the nasal septum

We report an unusual case of rhinolith in the nasal septum in an 11-year-old girl. The rhinolith was detected on X-radiographs made for the planning of an orthodontic treatment, There were no symptoms like nasal obstruction, chronic infection or epistaxis in the young patient. The histopathologic examination after surgical removal showed hyaline cartilage, local fibrosis and pronounced hemosiderosis, indicating possible prior bleeding. Therefore, an endogenic etiology of the intraseptal rhinolith, e.g. a prior trauma of the nasal septum, is assumed. A review of the literature is included. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.