Clinical Application of Cryotherapy in Intractable Chronic Rhinitis

Intranasal cryoablation for chronic rhinitis was first introduced in the 1970s. Initially, the procedure targeted the inferior turbinate and the lower portion of the middle turbinate, the areas rich in vascular sinusoidal tissue and submucosal glands. The treatment resulted in the necrosis of nasal mucosa, followed by mucosal regeneration over several weeks, leading to improvement in nasal symptoms. However, this technique is use of limited study on its efficacy. Recently, cryoablation of the posterior nasal nerve has been introduced as an effective treatment in patients with chronic rhinitis refractory to intervene pharmacologically. It has gained popularity, as it is minimally invasive and performed in an outpatient setting unlike traditional vidian neurectomy which is technically challenging and require general anesthesia in an operating room setting. This article introduces the background of cryoablation in the medical field and discusses its application in the treatment of chronic rhinitis.