Rhinitis Caseosa: A Forgotten Entity

Rhinitis caseosa, also known as nasal cholesteatoma, is an uncommon disorder marked by the growth of caseous masses of material in the nose and, rarely, the maxillary antrum. This disease can be caused by tuberculosis, syphilis, erysipelas, Strepthrix alba infection, polyp degeneration, or suppuration due to protracted blockage. Patients mostly present with complaints of nasal obstruction with foul-smelling nasal discharge and can mimic features of sinonasal malignancy or fungal rhinosinusitis. Therefore, an early diagnosis and management become crucial. Herein, we present an unusual case of a female in her mid-20s with similar complaints. A diagnosis of rhinitis caseosa was made with a nasal endoscopy and computed tomography scan of the paranasal sinuses, which were eventually treated with surgical excision and confirmed by histopathological examination.