Nasal contact endoscopy for the in vivo diagnosis of inverted schneiderian papilloma and unilateral inflammatory nasal polyps.

BACKGROUND

Inverted schneiderian papilloma is an entity surrounded by controversies ranging from its etiology to the indication of treatment. Any method that permits histopathological analysis without damage to the tissue studied deserves to be investigated. In this study, we tested a new noninvasive method, i.e., nasal contact endoscopy.

METHODS

The main alterations visible on nasal contact endoscopy were described in 11 patients with inverted papilloma and in 8 patients with unilateral inflammatory nasal polyps. The characteristics showing the differentiation between the two entities were defined and these findings were presented to inexperienced examiners.

RESULTS

The significant characteristics for differentiation between the two diseases were the presence of vacuolized cells, cellular heterogeneity, cell clusters, a ciliated respiratory epithelium, and vascular patterns. Two of the three examiners showed a statistically significant high rate of correct diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Nasal contact endoscopy may be an effective method for the differential diagnosis between inverted schneiderian papilloma and inflammatory polyps even when the examiner is inexperienced.