[Local differences in the tissue picture of chronic hyperplastic paranasal sinus mucosa]

Five standardised mucosal biopsies were taken on each side during endoscopic sinus surgery from twenty-two patients with severe hyperplastic paranasal sinusitis. The different samples from the ethmoidal and maxillary sinus mucosa were compared with regard to the uniformity of histological changes. Each histological component of the sinus mucosa was involved to a different extent in local pathological changes. These analyses support the view that the character of the chronic inflammatory process is influenced by local pathogenetic factors. Preoperative biopsies do not give information about the general condition of the sinus mucosa.