HISTOLOGY AND HISTOMORPHOMETRY OF ETHMOID BONE IN CHRONIC RHINOSINUSITIS

Mucosal changes have been well described in chronic sinusitis, yet lit tle is known about the underlying bone, despite clinical and experimen tal evidence suggesting that bone may be involved in chronic sinusitis , Techniques of undecalcified bone analysis were used for detailed his tologic examination of ethmoid bone in chronic sinusitis compared with controls. Bone synthesis, resorption, and inflammatory cell presence were specifically assessed. Additionally, histomorphometry techniques were used to determine ethmoid bone physiology in individuals undergoi ng surgery for chronic sinusitis. Overall, individuals undergoing surg ery for chronic sinusitis were found to]have evidence of marked accele ration in bone physiology with histologic changes including new bone f ormation, fibrosis, and presence of inflammatory cells. These findings are compared with osteomyelitis in long bone and the jaw, The suggest ion that underlying bane may serve as a catalyst for chronic sinusitis Is supported and implications for therapy are discussed.