Possible value of nasal smear in acute maxillary sinusitis: an experimental study.

The aim of this study is to determine the role of nasal smear in evaluating diagnosis and response to the treatment by the patient of acute maxillary sinusitis. We compared nasal smear and histopathological findings obtained from rabbits experimentally induced acute maxillary sinusitis. The animals were divided into two groups; one with blocked ostium and treated with antibiotic and the other applied natural ostiotomy, during a 4-week period. There was no statistically significant difference between the two groups in respect of recovery period. This conclusion was derived from nasal smear and biopsy findings. It was observed that nasal smear and biopsy findings were consistent with each other and with clinical findings. The results of this study revealed that nasal smear may be used in the diagnosis and treatment follow-up of acute maxillary sinusitis.