Allergic Factors in the Pathology of the Paranasal Sinuses

Abstract

Histological examination of the biopsy mucosa in chronic maxillay and ethmoidal sinusitis showed the metaplastic superficial epithelial layer with thickened low columnar cells and increased numbers of basal and goblet cells. The connective tissue revealed fibrous contraction causing atrophy of the once hypertrophied mucous glands and blood vessels surrounded by lymphocytes, plasma cells, eosinophils and histiocytes. In 3 % of cases of allergic maxillary sinusitis the thickened basilar membrane was found to be oedematous with eosinophilic infiltration. The adjacent bony wall showed osteoporotic changes more frequently within the ethmoidal cells. Any infection increases the oedema, causing polyp formation, obstruction of the sero-mucous glands with the look of one cystic shape and fibrosis of blood vessels. Subsequent atrophy is responsible for a granular appearance of the sinus mucosa mentioned.