title: Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartomas and olfactory function.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Respiratory epithelial adenomatoid hamartoma can occur alone or associated with several diseases with very different pathological processes. Our hypothesis is that REAH is a non-specific reaction of the nose when olfaction is impaired.
  
  
  METHODS
  This is a retrospective study including all patients with HERA operated in an academic ENT department. Data analysis focused on the pre and post-operative olfaction, corticosteroids consumption, histological results of the polyps, the evolution of the disease allowing a comparison of HERA with or without polyps and comparison of data literature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  28 patients suffered from REAH of which 18 are associated with polyps. Nineteen patients had inflammatory disease with a 9 year interval between initial diagnosis and surgery of REAH. Olfactory function was improved after surgery (p < 0.01). The cell content of the polyps showed eosinophilic infiltration in 8 patients which 6 were correlated with inflammatory disease. Lymphoplasmacytic infiltration was present in 10 patients which 8 were correlated with inflammatory disease. Nasal corticosteroid consumption decreased after surgery (p < 0.02). The mean follow-up after surgery was 34 ± 43 months. Polyp recurrence rate was 11% (3 patients), and 0% for REAH.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In most cases, olfactory function, cellular infiltration and polyp recurrence rate are not correlated with the pathophysiological inflammatory processes that coincides with REAH. Therefore, the co-existence of nasal polyposis with REAH is probably overestimated.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nagouas
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bastier
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Gabory
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006222:Hamartoma / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D059747:Nasal Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012903:Smell; D016896:Treatment Outcome