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Introduction The histological study of nasal polyps does not reveal any specific lesions but eosinophilic infiltration nasal mucosae seems to be characteristic of nasal polyposis. The aim of this work is to study possible links between certain histological and clinical aspects in nasal polyposis. Furthermore, we attempt to compare the quantification of tissue eosinophilia according to the number of eosinophils per field with the percentage figure obtained with respect to the total of inflammatory cells. Material and method We have studied 40 patients with idiopathic bilateral nasal polyposis, assessing the correlations between various clinical aspects such as their endoscopic and radiological status, association with asthma and intolerance to NSAIDs, against histological aspects of nasal polyps such as the frequency of metaplasia, fibrosis, and the degree of eosinophilic infiltration. A group of 12 healthy subjects allowed comparison of our results with healthy nasal mucosa. Results Tissue eosinophilia correlates statistically with clinical staging and tends to be higher in patients with ASA triad. The quantitative measurement of tissue eosinophilia (number of eosinophils per field) correlates with the percentage figure obtained (with respect to the total number of inflammatory cells in the infiltrate). Conclusions Eosinophil infiltration of the nasal mucosa is, together with oedema, the most constant histological characteristic of nasal polyposis and seems to be an important factor in the clinical behaviour of sinonasal polyposis. Quantitative measurement of tissue eosinophilia is easier and quicker to perform and equivalent to percentage evaluation.

Background Eosinophils are possibly the most important inflammatory cells in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Eosinophilic nasal mucosal infiltration is characteristic of nasal polyposis. The aim of this work was to study the possibility of correlations between cytological and tissue eosinophilia in patients with nasal polyposis and with the stage of the disease. If this correlation exists, nasal cytology will be very useful in diagnosis and management of patients with nasal polyposis. Methods We studied 40 patients affected idiopathic nasal polyposis and 12 normal group controls. Qualitative measurements of eosinophils in nasal exudates and in tissue biopsy specimens were performed and the results were compared. Results Nasal cytology and tissue biopsy showed a statistical correlation in the normal as well as in the pathological group. Clinical staging polyposis also correlated with cytological and tissue eosinophilia. Conclusions Nasal cytological eosinophilia is a simple, fast, nontraumatic, and inexpensive method in the evaluation of patients with nasal polyposis. Eosinophilic infiltration of the nasal mucosa is characteristic of nasal polyposis. It correlates with the stage of the disease and tends to be higher in patients with asthma, nasal polyposis, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug intolerance (acetil salicilic acid triad).

Background Eosinophils are possibly the most important inflammatory cells in the pathogenesis of rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis. Eosinophil degranulation is the mechanism by which these cells exert their inflammatory action. Knowledge of eosinophil state and degranulation mode therefore may help us to better understand this disease. A study is made of eosinophil state and degranulation mode using transmission electron microscopy (TEM), attempting to establish correlations with certain clinical variables considered to be of importance in patients with nasal polyposis. Methods A prospective TEM study was made to examine 582 eosinophils under 5000× magnification, classifying them according to their state and degranulation mode. The cells originated from 36 cases of nasal polyposis and were catalogued according to the clinical–radiological presentation of the disorder, the presence of asthmatic disease, or acetilsalicilic acid (ASA) triad syndrome (nasal polyposis, asthma, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug intolerance), and the degree of nasal tissue eosinophilia of the case of origin. Results A total of 30.75% of the eosinophils were inactive, 41.75% exhibited piecemeal degranulation (PMD), 27.5% exhibited cytolysis, and 0.34% were in apoptosis. The degranulation mode was significantly correlated to the clinical and histological parameters studied. Thus, cytolysis tended to be less pronounced and PMD greater, in the cells from cases with intense eosinophilia or severe polyposis (high clinical stage and ASA triad). Conclusion Cytolysis and PMD are the principal degranulation modes of eosinophils in nasal polyposis—apoptosis being very infrequent. Nasal polyposis shows a correlation between eosinophil degranulation mode and the clinical and radiological stage and the degree of tissue eosinophilia of the case of origin.