[The saccharin test in comparison with cytologic findings in assessing nasal mucosa function]

The authors emphasize the importance of two aspects of investigation of the nasal mucosa: morphologically by means of cytology, and functionally using the saccharin test. The results are based upon an investigation of 104 patients (208 saccharin tests and 208 cytological slides). The cytological analysis was performed on a mucous smear taken from each nostril separately. The slides were prepared by the May-Grünwald-Giemsa method and examined under the light microscope (magnification 63 and 630). The functional analysis of the nasal mucosa at the site from which the cytological smear was taken was performed by a saccharin test. There were four possible results of such an analysis: normal cytological findings (normal amount of ciliary cells presented) and normal function of mucociliary transport system (normal transport rate values), normal cytological findings and lack of mucociliary transport system and, finally, abnormal cytological findings followed by normal mucociliary transport rates. Possible reasons for the results are discussed. A three-dimensional picture of the nasal mucosa is obtained: morphological, functional and biologically by a combination of the two methods.