Abstract
Two cases of rhinolithiasis, a 69-year-old female and a 76-year-old female, were reported and their rhinoliths were analyzed using several methods. In both cases the nasal calculi located around the middle meatus lacked a so-called “nucleus” and weighed 0.93 and 2.7g, respectively.
Infrared spectrometric analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, atomic absorption analysis and emission spectroscopic analysis were performed on the rhinoliths as well as on salivary calculi obtained from the Warton's duct of a female aged 25 years for comparison. Both the rhinoliths and salivary calculi were mainly composed of calcium phosphate. However, in general the rhinoliths contained a greater variety and quantity of elements than the salivary calculi. The rhinoliths contained Ni, Ag, Zn, Na, Cu, Ca, Fe, Si, Mg, Pb, Cr, P and Hg. These results may be related to recent air pollution, since the nasal cavity is the first gate of the upper respiratory tract.
