Lamellated bodies in the normal paranasal sinus mucosa. Transmission electron microscope observation.

Abstract

Paranasal sinus disease is still an enigma in otolaryngology unfortunately little being achieved to solve the problem. The pluricausal aetiology requires further research of basic pathophysiololog ical principles. Histological studies are numerous, but compared to the middle ear pathology ultrastructural investigations are very scattered. Introducing the objective sinumanometry as a paranasal ostium function test we are able to determe the ostium resistance before and after saline irrigation of the sinus [6]. The discrepancy of the two datas gave rise to the speculation of the existence of a surface tension lowering substance in sinus secretion similiar to the lung and the middle ear. This assumption was underlined by biochemical analysis yielding high Dipalmitoyllezit hin concentration in human sinus secretions (Bauer and Mann, unpublished data). These findings were the incitement for further ultrastructural morphological studies of human sinus mucosa. Material and Methods