Cytological Examination of Mucosal Secretion in Nose, Throat, Oral Cavity, and Oesophagus by A Replica Method

Abstract

A method is described for qualitative and semiquantitative cytological examination of mucosal secretion from the nose, throat, oral cavity, and oesophagus. The principle of the method is that a replica is procured from a circumscribed area of the mucosa in question. A preliminary series of investigation has proved the suitability of the method in otorhinolaryngology. Distinct inflammation was seen in tonsil samples from patients with acute tonsillitis. In contrast, most preparations from normal tonsils contained only small to moderate numbers of granulocytes and lymphocytes.

In secretion from normal nasal mucosa so many inflammatory cells were found that a cytological distinction from the finding in cases of rhinitis was impossible. However, the presence of large numbers of eosinophilic granulocytes supported the suspicion of allergic aetiology in several of the rhinitis cases.

Fungus structures were clearly demonstrated in replicas from the oral cavity of patients with fungal stomatitis.

Heavy infiltration with inflammatory cells and occasional erythrocytes was characteristic of oesophagus samples from patients with oesophagitis, a fact which may prove valuable in the diagnosis of this disease in cases with uncharacteristic symptoms and slight macroscopical changes.