Abstract
The possible role of surgical manipulation in inducing local spread and cicatricial complications in rhinoscleroma is illustrated by the three cases discussed in this paper. This is especially so where is occasional presentation as polypoid lesions of the lower respiratory tract may mimic other more sinister lesions and lead to unwarranted invasive procedures by the unsuspecting clinician. The infective nature of the lesions must be appreciated and confirmed microbiologically for appropriate drug treatment to be used. The benefits of minimal surgical intervention are illustrated in the third case.