Nasal cytology

Nasal cytology represents a useful, inexpensive and easy-to-apply diagnostic method to better detail the phenotypic characteristics of rhinitis. In fact, it allows to detect and quantify the cell population within the nasal mucosa at a given time. The technique involves sampling, processing and microscope reading. Sampling requires the collection of cells from the surface of nasal mucosa that is usually done by a sterile disposable curette. Samples should be collected from the middle portion of the inferior turbinate where the ratio ciliate/mucinous cells is expected to be well balanced. This totally painless procedure is performed under anterior rhinoscopy, with an appropriate light source. The sample staining is executed using the common May-Grünwald-Giemsa (MGG). The stained sample is read at optical microscopy with a 1000x objective and with oil detecting the presence of inflammatory elements (eosinophils, mast cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes) in nasal mucosa, as in the case of allergic and non-allergic rhinitis. Nasal cytology is easy to perform, non-invasive, inexpensive and repeatable in the same subject, also at short time intervals. For these reasons it represents an affordable diagnostic technique that can be applied in all age ranges, to better differentiate pathological conditions and also to evaluate the effects of various stimuli (allergens, infectious, irritants) or the effect of treatments.