1985 Volume 34 Issue 7 Pages 428-432
Surface basophilic cells in scrapings obtained from the inferior turbinate of nasal polyp patients were examined microscopically. While surface basophilic cells were believed to be specific to nasal allergy patients, we were able to observe them in nasal polyp patients. These cells were found in 5% of normal controls, in 14% of patients with chronic sinusitis without nasal polyp, in 65% with nasal polyp and in 91% with nasal allergy. In the patients with unilateral nasal polyp, the number of surface basophilic cells increased on the side with nasal polyp, but not on the side without nasal polyp. The larger the nasal polyp became, the more the number of surface basophilic cells increased. After the nasal polyp was removed, the cells decreased remarkably in number. In regard to other nasal diseases, surface basophilic cells were discovered in 80% of tracheotomized patients, in 88% of laryngectomized patients from laryngeal cancer, in 100% of patients with a tumor in the nasal cavity, in 100% of patients irradiated to nasal cavity and in 90% with atrophic rhinitis. Surface basophilic cells seem to increase in number through some mechanism following a blockage of the nasal airway by nasal polyp.
