The investigation of the histological differences between the mucosa on the nasal and sinus sides of uncinate process of chronic rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study is to check whether histopathological differences exist between the nasal side and the sinus side of uncinate process of chronic rhinosinusitis and the histopathological basis of nasal polyp was discussed. Methods:The uncinate processes of chronic rhinosinusitis and control subjects were enrolled from October 2016 to April 2017. The following histopathological data were assessed: height of basement membrane, the proportion of glands in the sub-epithelium, the numbers of goblet cells and inflammatory cells. Results:A total of 116 patients were recruited, including 38 chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps（CRSwNP）, 58 chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps（CRSsNP） and 20 controls. There was no significant difference between age and gender distribution（P>0.05）. The basement membrane was significantly thinner on the sinus side of the 3 groups' uncinate processes than on the nasal side except CRSwNP group（P<0.05）. The basement membrane of CRSwNP and CRSsNP was significantly higher than control uncinate processes（P<0.05）. Inflammatory cells number were significantly increased in CRSwNP and CRSsNP than in the control uncinate processes, and the nasal side was obviously more than the sinus side in the CRSwNP and CRSsNP groups（P<0.05）. The number of goblet cells was more on the sinus side of the 3 groups uncinate processes than on the nasal side, that of CRSsNP and control were significant difference between the nasal side and sinus side（P<0.05）. The proportion of glands was larger on the sinus and nasal side of the uncinate processes in CRSwNP and CRSsNP than that of the control uncinate processes（P<0.05）, and the proportion of glands was significantly greater on the nasal side than on the sinus side of the uncinate processes in CRSwNP（P<0.05）. Conclusion:Histopathological differences exist between the nasal side and sinus side of the ups of CRSwNP, CRSsNP and control. The nasal side is more prone to polyps than the sinus side, which may be related to the thickening of basement membrane, the increase of inflammatory cells and gland area, and the decrease of goblet cells.