Post operative changes in sinus mucosa after endoscopic sinus surgery

This study was performed on 30 patients with chronic sinusitis from outpatient clinics, AlAzhar University Hospitals. Biopsies from the sinus mucosa and turbinates were studied by light microscopy. transmission and scanning electron microscopy. These biopsies were obtained before and after functional endoscopic sinus surgery [FESS]. The present investigation led to the following findings. The microscopic pictures showed that goblet cells, inflammatory cells and oedaema were less postoperatively but fibrosis was more than before the operation. In chronic sinusitis treated by FESS. the mucosa showed ultrastructural changes caused by acute and chronic infections. In chronic sinusitis, morphological changes such as swelling of the ciliary membrane, formation of compound cilia, loss of epithelial cells, ciliary disorientation dilated glands and cells distended with secretory granules were recorded. Swelling of endothelial cells of the blood vessels was observed. Healing of mucosal pathology evaluated radiologically and by electron microscopy took up to six months despite the seemingly early symptomatic improvement