Some remarks on nasal polyposis.

After a short historical and literature review the authors present their definition of nasal polyposis. The importance of CT scanning is stressed and the results of a CT-scan study of 350 patients with nasal complaints is presented. The authors discuss the incidence of sinusitis, presence of polypi and nasal anomalies in this population. Furthermore 111 biopsies of nasal polypi were studied and the cellular content, the ducts, glands, veins, aspect of the basal membrane and epithelial layer were described. As an oral ASA provocation test can be hazardous, the authors tested a nasal provocation test with acetylsalicylic acid. Although the test showed some interesting results, the reproducibility was poor. Finally the authors conclude that endoscopy and CT-scanning enable the diagnosis of nasal polyposis in an early stage of the disease.

Recurrent polyposis nasi. Documentation.

After a short historical review a proposal is made for the definition of nasal polyposis. The authors studied 350 CT-scans of patients with nasal complaints. In a high percentage anatomical anomalies were observed. In 57.5% of the CT-scans sinus mucosal disease was visible. In all patients with maxillary sinus disease polyps (rounded structures) could be found; in 31% these polyps were mainly of grade 2. From a retrospective study of 111 biopsies of nasal polyposis (65 patients) it became clear that different polyps from the same patient showed substantial difference in cellular content, i.e. presence of eosinophils, neutrophils, plasma cells, glands, ducti and thickening of the basal membrane. As oral acetylsalicylic acid provocation may be hazardous in ASA-sensitive patients, the authors developed a nasal aspirin provocation test. This nasal ASA test was carried out in 10 normal test subjects, 10 patients with aspecific hyperreactivity, 10 atopic patients and 16 patients with polyposis nasi. The reproducibility of the test, however, was so poor that the nasal ASA challenge test in its present form does not appear to be of any great clinical value. Finally, the authors discuss the physiopathology of nasal polyposis.

Is endonasal insufflation of xenon133 a fiable functional assessment of nasal cavities?

The ventilation of nasal cavities has been examined according to the method of Bisschop et al. (1983). The test was performed on 32 healthy volunteers, free of symptoms with normal standard X-rays of their sinuses. Half-times of the wash-out curves were calculated and adopted as a measure of ventilation. For sitting persons these values were lower than other authors reported, the values in sitting or lying persons were comparable. We did not find a significant difference between values of sitting or lying We did not find a significant difference between values of sitting or lying persons. There was no significant difference neither in the half-times obtained in persons with normal clinical background and persons with septal deviations. The experiment was not optimally reproducable.

[Is endonasal insufflation of xenon 133 a valuable function test of the paranasal sinuses?]. / Is endonasale insufflatie van Xenon 133 een waardevolle functionele test van de neusbijholten?

The ventilation of nasal cavities has been examined according to the method of Bisschop et al. (1983). The test was performed on 32 healthy volunteers, free of symptoms with normal standard x-rays of their sinuses. Half-times of the washout curves were calculated and adopted as a measure of ventilation. For sitting persons these values were lower than other authors reported, the values in sitting or lying persons were comparable. We did not find a significant difference between values of sitting or lying persons. There was no significant difference neither in the half-times obtained in persons with normal clinical background and persons with septal deviations. The experiment was not optimally reproducible.