[92 cases of allergic-type nasal polyp. A methodology for its etiological characterization]

The etiopathogenesis of nasal allergic polyps is poorly understood; an immunological mediated mechanism is commonly admitted. A clinic-pathological study of 92 cases of nasal polyps is reported. The occupational and or environmental background of the patients was recorded. Appropriate histochemical techniques were applied to identify pollutants within the lesions. Iron, wood, cement, cork, paper, glass, tobacco, textile fibres and chalk could be identified. The follow-up of patients at 12 years after excision of polyps revealed a decrease in recurrence whenever exposure to pollutants was discontinued. The etiology of nasal allergic polyps is probably related to the inhalation of some foreign materials reported.