Histopathological examination of the effects of radiofrequency treatment on mucosa in patients with inferior nasal concha hypertrophy

Abstract

Radiofrequency reduction has become one of the most popular methods in the treatment of inferior nasal concha hypertrophy. During surgical treatment of inferior nasal concha hypertrophy, it is important to cause minimal injury to the overlying ciliated epithelium, since if the ciliated structure of this epithelium is permanently disrupted, it is hard to carry out one of the important functions of lining of the nasal cavity, mucociliary clearance. In this study, the ultrastructure of inferior nasal concha epithelium was examined by transmission and scanning electron microscopy in 40 patients with inferior nasal concha hypertrophy. The biopsy specimens were taken before the radiofrequency treatment and 8 weeks after the radiofrequency treatment. Then, the effects of radiofrequency treatment on concha epithelium and morphology of ciliae were examined ultrastructurally. In the scanning and transmission electron microscopic examination of the tissue samples taken before radiofrequency treatment, no ultrastructural pathology was observed in the number and morphology of the ciliae and the inferior nasal concha epithelium. The biopsy specimens obtained 8 weeks after radiofrequency treatment also did not show any ultrastructural pathology in these parameters. However, in the transmission electron microscopic examination of the subepithelial tissue, fibrosis was observed in local areas in the biopsy specimens obtained 8 weeks after radiofrequency treatment. In conclusion, the results obtained from this study suggest that ciliated epithelium of the inferior nasal concha is not destroyed by radiofrequency reduction.

The effect of inferior turbinate surgery on ciliated epithelium: A randomized, blinded study

“…6,15,16 On the other hand, there are studies that have shown a normal appearance of the epithelium with a preserved number of cilia. 17,18 In the present study, squamous metaplasia and total loss of ciliated cells were found in the majority of the preoperative samples. This may partly be explained by the chronic rhinitis associated with inferior turbinate enlargement.…”

“…There have been studies that have reported preoperative findings of epithelial metaplasia and loss of ciliated cells . On the other hand, there are studies that have shown a normal appearance of the epithelium with a preserved number of cilia . In the present study, squamous metaplasia and total loss of ciliated cells were found in the majority of the preoperative samples.…”

“…20 There have been some previous light and electron microscopy studies that have evaluated the effect of inferior turbinate surgery on ciliated epithelium. Based on the findings of previous studies, RFA 6,17,18,21 and submucosal electrocautery 6,22,23 do not have a significant effect on ciliated epithelium. After endoscopic turbinoplasty, some improvement has been described.…”

Histopathological and ultrastructural effects of cutting radiofrequency energy on palatal soft tissues: a prospective study

“…This number is comparable or in excess of patient numbers in similar studies investigating the effect of interstitial radiofrequency therapy in animal studies and cadaveric human studies [21][22][23][24][25][26][27]. We also recruited a further two patients in an attempt to assess the ultrastructural effects of the RF cutting probe in comparison to CO 2 LASER resection.…”

Influence of Radiofrequency Surgery on Architecture of the Palatine Tonsils

“…Ciliated epithelium of the inferior nasal concha was not destroyed by radiofrequency reduction in patients with inferior nasal concha hypertrophy. Fibrosis of the subepithelial tissue was observed [8]. …”