[Evaluation of the brushing technique in nasal cytology]

Analysis of nasal cytology provides useful information for the diagnosis of rhinitis. This analysis represents an interesting tool for objective assessment of nasal pathology. The purpose of this study was to describe the brushing method for obtaining nasal cytologic specimen. Samples were carried out from nine adult patients with chronic nasal obstruction. In all cases, the cytologic specimen had a good amount of well-preserved cells, easy to identify on morphological criteria. A differential cell count was performed on the different epithelial cell types present in the specimen and the results are reported in the present study. In conclusion, brushing method is non invasive and allows to precisely evaluate both epithelial and inflammatory cells present in the nasal mucosa.