Study of nasal surface basophilic cells in patients with nasal polyp.

Surface basophilic cells in samples obtained from the inferior concha of nasal polyp patients were examined microscopically. Although the cells were believed to be specific to nasal allergy patients, we were also able to observe them in nasal polyp patients without nasal allergy. 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 patients with unilateral nasal polyp the surface basophilic cells increased on the side with nasal polyp but not on the side without nasal polyp. As the nasal polyp grew in size, so the number of cells grew. After the polyp was removed, the cells decreased appreciably in number. With regard to other nasal diseases, surface basophilic cells were observed in 80% of tracheotomized patients, in 88% of laryngectomized patients due to laryngeal cancer, in 100% of patients with a tumor in nasal cavity, in 100% of patients with irradiation treatment of the nasal cavity and in 90% of patients with atrophic rhinitis. The surface basophilic cells seem to increase in number through some mechanism induced by a blockage of nasal airway by nasal polyp.