[The observation of the inflamed cells in the mucosa at the medial site compare with that at the lateral site of the normal uncinate process].

OBJECTIVE

To determine the inflammatory cells in the mucosa at the medial aspect of the normal uncinate process compared with that on the protected lateral aspect of the normal uncinate process.

METHOD

The mucosa of 20 uncinate process from the nasal cavity of 17 patients with no evidence of sinus disease undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery were recruited for the study. The material was stained with HE, Chromotrope 2R, Alcian blue-periodic acid-schiff, Toluidine blue. Specimens were observed using an Olympus microscope.

RESULT

The number of mast cells and goblet cells were found to be higher on the lateral aspect of the normal uncinate process than on the medial aspect. The number of plasma cells was obviously different from that of lymphocytes. We did not found any eosinophils on either sides of uncinate process.

CONCLUSION

There are differences in the number of mast cells and goblet cells between the mucosa at the medial aspect of the normal uncinate process and the mucosa at the protected lateral aspect of the normal uncinate process.