[Histologic changes in the epithelium of the respiratory mucosa of the lower turbinates following argon laser strip carbonization in vasomotor rhinitis].

The histological findings after argon-ion-laser-carbonization on the respiratory mucosa of the lower turbinates in vasomotor rhinitis are described directly after laser treatment and 6 years later. The laser surgical procedure without bleeding, the reduction of swelling of the lower turbinates, a slight diminishing of secretion, a significantly better nasal ventilation are demonstrated by the histological findings. The main characteristic histological findings are: a cuneiform laser lesion extending deep into the tissue to the venous plexus, four different typical tissue layers immediately after laser treatment, centrally the carbonization zone surrounded by a coagulation zone and next to this a honeycombed zone surrounded by a very small oedematous zone. Healing of the laser lesion is always complete. First of all, a squamous epithelium with subepithelial fibrosis and hypertrophy of the muscle cells in the venous plexus are seen. Half a year after laser carbonization metaplasia of the stratified squamous epithelium into pseudostratified cylindrical ciliated epithelium is seen. Occasionally, small islands of stratified squamous epithelium are visible.