Abstract
Histopathological study of specimens obtained from 64 cadavers (41 adults, 23 infants and young children) with coronal sections through the head and nose revealed frequent instances of chronic inflammatory changes, especially adhesive processes, which would be extremely difficult to observe clinically. In the adult cases. apposition of the nasal septum and the superior turbinate in 33 per cent and adhesions in 22 per cent were observed, and these inflammatory changes were more frequently found in the rima olfactord at the posterosuperior portion of the nasal septum. However, in contrast to apposition observed in 22 per cent of the inflants and children under 12, no instances of adhesions were found in these cases. It is believed that through recurrent occurrences of inflammation in this region, excoriation of the epithelium, cellular infiltration and retention of secretions take place in the lining mucous membrane, resulting in organization and consequently, apposition and adhesions of the nasal septum and the superior turbinate.
