Analysis of the nasal cytology provides information regarding the pathophysiology and response to therapy of the airway. This paper reviews the techniques for obtaining and interpreting specimens. The discussion focuses on the epithelial and inflammatory cells and the patterns seen in allergic, infectious and structural nasal disorders.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
MeltzerE.O., SchatzM., ZeigerR.S.Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis, In: MiddletonE.Jr., ReedC.E., EllisE.F., eds. Allergy: Principles and Practice, 3rd ed.St. Louis: The C.V. Mosby Company, 1988, p. 1253.
2.
Angel-SolanoG., ShturmanR.Comparative cytology of nasal secretions and nasal mucosa in allergic rhinitis. Ann Allergy56: 521, 1986.
3.
CohenG.A., MacPhersonG.A., GolembeskyH.E., JalowayskiA.A., O'ConnorR.D.Normal nasal cytology in infancy. Ann Allergy54: 112, 1985.
4.
ZeigerR.S., JalowayskiA.A., SchatzM.Chronic rhinitis: only half a diagnosis. Diagnosis5: 91, 1983.
5.
JalowayskiA.A., ZeigerR.S.Examination of nasal or conjunctival epithelial specimens. In: LawlorG.J.Jr., FischerT.J., eds. Manual of Allergy and Immunology, 2nd ed.Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1988, p. 432.
6.
BryanM.P., BryanW.T.K.Cytologic diagnosis in allergic disorders. Otolaryngol Clin North Am7: 637, 1974.
7.
BickmoreJ.T.Nasal cytology in allergy and infection. ORL Allergy40: 39, 1978.
8.
HanselF.K.Observations on the cytology of the secretions in allergy of the nose and paranasal sinuses. J Allergy5: 357, 1934.
9.
MalmbergH.Symptoms of chronic and allergic rhinitis and occurrence of nasal secretion granulocytes in university students, school children and infants. Allergy34: 389, 1979.
10.
MurrayA.B., AndersonD.O.The Epidemiologic relationship of clinical nasal allergy to eosinophils and to goblet cells in the nasal smear. J Allergy43: 1, 1969.
11.
PelikanZ.The changes in the nasal secretions of eosinophils during the immediate nasal response to allergen challenge. J Allergy Clin Immunol72: 657, 1983.
12.
HanselF.K.Cytologic diagnosis in respiratory allergy and infection. Ann Allergy24: 564, 1966.
13.
ElkhalilM., FioreL., BellioniP., CantaniA., CorgioluM., BusincoL.Evaluation of nasal and blood eosinophilia in children suffering from perennial allergic rhinitis treated with beclomethasone dipropionate. Allergol Immunopathol (Madr)11: 225, 1983.
14.
MygindN.Topical steroid treatment for allergic rhinitis and allied conditions. Clin Otolaryngol7: 343, 1982.
15.
OrgelH.A., MeltzerE.O., KempJ.P., WelchM.J.Clinical rhinomanometric and cytologic evaluation of seasonal allergic rhinitis treated with beclomethasone dipropionate as aqueous nasal spray or pressurized aerosol. J Allergy Clin Immunol77: 858, 1986.
16.
VaheriE.Nasal allergy with special reference to eosinophilia and histopathology. Acta Allergol10: 203, 1956.
17.
GristwoodR.E.Observations on the hisopathology of allergic rhinitis: regional differences in mucosal eosinophilia. J Laryngosc Otol49: 270, 1982.
18.
MillerR.E., ParadiseJ.L., FridayG.A., FiremanP., VoithD.The nasal smear for eosinophils. Its value in children with seasonal allergic rhinitis. Am J Dis Child136: 1009, 1982.
19.
KaufmanH.S., RosenI., ShaposhnikovN., WeiM.Nasal eosinophilia. Ann Allergy49: 270, 1982.
20.
MalmbergH., HolopainenE.Nasal smear as a screening test for immediate-type nasal allergy. Allergy34: 331, 1979.
21.
MullarkeyM.F., HillJ.S., WebbD.R.Allergic and nonallergic rhinitis: their characterization with attention to the meaning of nasal eosinophilia. J Allergy Clin Immunol65: 122, 1980.
22.
ConnellJ.T.Nasal disease: mechanisms and classification. Ann Allergy50: 227, 1983.
JalowayskiA.A., MaesT.E., WassermanS.I., ZeigerR.S.Histochemical differentiation of the human nasal mucosa mast cells from basophil leukocytes. J Allergy Clin Immunol71: 89, 1983.
25.
OkudaM., KawaboriS., OtsukaH.Electron microscope study of basophilic cells in allergic nasal secretions. Arch Otorhinolaryngol221: 215, 1978.
26.
WihlJ-Å, BrofeldtS., GrønborgH., BorumP., MygindN.Blind study of basophilic cells in nasal smears from patients with grass pollen hay fever. Eur J Respir Dis64(suppl 128): 383, 1983.
SalasA., WilsonN., HamburgerR.N.Relation of serum IgE level to the cells observed in nasal cytogram. Ann Allergy60: 175, 1988.
29.
LangD.M., HowlandW.C., StevensonD.D.Sensitivity and features of nasal cytology in diagnosis of allergic (IgE-mediated) rhinitis. Ann Allergy60: 176, 1988.
30.
BryanW.T.K., BryanM.P.Cytological diagnosis in otolaryngology. Am Acad Ophthalmol Otolaryngol Trans63: 597, 1959.
31.
AndersonH.Practical nasal cytology: key to the problem nose. ORL Allergy41: 51, 1979.
32.
GillF., NeiburgerJ.Nasal smear cytology in chronic sinusitis. Ann Allergy60: 175, 1988.
33.
MygindN., VinerA.S., JackmanN.Histology of nasal mucosa in normals and in patients with perennial rhinitis. Rhinology12: 131, 1974.
34.
BinderE., HolopainenH., MalmbergH., SaloO.P.Clinical findings in patients with allergic rhinitis. Rhinology22: 255, 1984.
35.
KarlssonG., HanssonH-A, PetruonB., BjörkanderJ., HansonL.A.Goblet cell number in the nasal mucosa relates to cell-mediated immunity in patients with antibody deficiency syndromes. Int Arch Allergy Appl Immunol78: 86, 1985.
36.
SilversW.S. Personal communication.
37.
BryanW.T.K., BryanM.P., SmithC.A.Human ciliated epithelial cells in nasal secretions. Morphologic and histochemical aspects. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol73: 474, 1964.
38.
JalowayskiA.A., EnglandB.L., TemmC.J., NunemacherT.J., BastianJ.F., MacPhersonG.A., DannerW.M., StraubeR.C., ConnorJ.D.Peroxidase-antiperoxidase assay for rapid detection of respiratory syncytial virus in nasal epithelial specimens from infants and children. J Clin Microbiol25: 722, 1987.
AfzeliusB.A.A human syndrome caused by immotile cilia. Science193: 317, 1976.
42.
SturgessJ.M., ChaoJ., WongJ., AspinN., TurnerJ.A.P.Cilia with defective radial spokes: a cause of human respiratory disease. N Engl J Med300: 53, 1979.
43.
SturgessJ.M., ChaoJ., TurnerJ.A.P.Transposition of ciliary microtubules. Another cause of impaired ciliary motility. N Engl J Med303: 318, 1980.