Congenital choanal atresia.

Congenital choanal atresia (CCA) is the developmental failure of the nasal cavity to communicate with the nasopharynx. Bilateral choanal atresia is potentially life threatening in newborns. Most of these cases present early in life with cyclical phases of respiratory distress and apnoea, which gets relieved by crying. In fewer cases it goes undiagnosed to present in adult life with rhinorrhoea and nasal obstruction. We report a rare case of bilateral choanal atresia presenting for the first time at 19 years of age with presenting with bilateral nasal obsruction, rhinorrhoea and anosmia. His neonatal history was unremarkable. Endoscopy and CT scan confirmed atresia. The patient was successfully treated by transpalatal technique.