title: Cytological and tissue eosinophilia correlations in nasal polyposis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Eosinophils are possibly the most important inflammatory cells in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Eosinophilic nasal mucosal infiltration is characteristic of nasal polyposis. The aim of this work was to study the possibility of correlations between cytological and tissue eosinophilia in patients with nasal polyposis and with the stage of the disease. If this correlation exists, nasal cytology will be very useful in diagnosis and management of patients with nasal polyposis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 40 patients affected idiopathic nasal polyposis and 12 normal group controls. Qualitative measurements of eosinophils in nasal exudates and in tissue biopsy specimens were performed and the results were compared.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nasal cytology and tissue biopsy showed a statistical correlation in the normal as well as in the pathological group. Clinical staging polyposis also correlated with cytological and tissue eosinophilia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal cytological eosinophilia is a simple, fast, nontraumatic, and inexpensive method in the evaluation of patients with nasal polyposis. Eosinophilic infiltration of the nasal mucosa is characteristic of nasal polyposis. It correlates with the stage of the disease and tends to be higher in patients with asthma, nasal polyposis, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug intolerance (acetyl-salicylic acid triad).
authors.affiliation: Rhinology Unit, General and University Hospital and Medical Center, Valencia, Spain. miguel.armengot@gmail.com
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Armengot
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Garín
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Lamo
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004802:Eosinophilia / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000473:pathology*