Osteocartilaginous necrosis of the sinonasal tract following cocaine abuse

Abstract

As cocaine abuse has become increasingly widespread, there has been a concomitant rise in associated medical complications. Nasal inhalation ("snorting") causes profound effects on the upper respiratory tract in addition to the well known nasal septal perforation. Septal necrosis can be accompanied by bleeding, granulation tissue, ulceration, and sinusitis. There are few reports of extensive sinonasal tract osteocartilaginous necrosis from cocaine abuse. We present five patients with this complication, which must be distinguished from other destructive midface lesions such as Wegener's granulomatosis and polymorphic reticulosis.