Epithelial Squamous Metaplasia and Dysplasia in Inflammatory Nasal Polyps: An Observational Study

Abstract

Nasal polyposis (NP) is characterized by polypoid outgrowths of chronically inflamed respiratory mucosa. The presence of squamous metaplasia and dysplasia on the mucosal surface of nasal polyps (NPs) represents different manifestations of epithelial atypia. The aim of this investigation was to evaluate the presence of epithelial squamous metaplasia and dysplasia in ethmoidal NPs. This retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data involved 212 patients with NP undergoing endoscopic ethmoidectomy. To evaluate possible etiological factors for epithelial atypia, the patients in whom we histopathologically detected the presence of epithelial atypia were compared with patients with ''normal'' NPs in accordance with the following characteristics as found in the patients' medical records: gender, age, main symptoms, preoperative extent of sinus disease on computed tomography, atopic status, aspirin sensitivity, cigarette smoking, and occupational exposure to different noxious factors. Epithelial atypia were detected histopathologically in 44 (20.7%) NP patients, whereas features of ''true'' dysplasia were found in only 1 (0.5%) patient. The presence of atypia was more frequent in males than in females (P ¼ .008). The association with aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease and with long-term occupational exposure to different noxious chemicals, especially in workers exposed to salts of heavy metals, was more frequent in NP patients with epithelial atypia than in patients without atypia (P ¼ .023; P ¼ .006, respectively). Our results suggest epithelial atypia in NPs are associated with aspirin sensitivity and occupational exposure to different noxious chemicals. Although extremely rare, epithelial dysplasia may occasionally be noted in NPs, a fact potentially useful for both rhinologists and pathologists.

Respiratory Nasal Mucosa in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps versus COVID-19: Histopathology, Electron Microscopy Analysis and Assessing of Tissue Interleukin-33

“…Squamous metaplasia ( Figure 1 E,F), basal membrane thickening ( Figure 1 G,H), and stromal fibrosis ( Figure 1 I,J and Figure 7 I–N) are morphological aspects of tissue remodeling secondary to chronic stromal edema [ 29 ]. With the onset of fibrosis, the number of inflammatory cells is reduced.…”

The Prevalence of upper respiratory tract lesions in pathology department, Beni-Suef University Hospital ( Histopathological and immunohistochemical Evaluation )

“…Jiang et al, [21] illustrated an increase of squamous metaplasia in nasal polyps over time may be due to the potential link between tissue inflammation and epithelial damage. Also, Perić et al, [22] detected the histopathological findings of epithelial atypia in 44 out of 212 (20.7%) of nasal polyps. While, Nunes et al, [23] reported no dysplasia in 75 patients with vocal polyps and Yang et al, [24] reported that dysplasia in vocal polyp was only 5% of 1115 patients.…”