Conclusion: This study demonstrates morphological changes in the nasal mucosa as a consequence of functional changes of the nasal cavity after total laryngectomy (TLE).
Objective: Observation of the changes of the nasal mucosa in patients after TLE.
Patients and methods: A cohort observational study contained 30 patients after TLE. These patients underwent nasal endoscopy and cytological and microbiological examination of the nasal mucosa. The control group comprised 30 patients.
Results: In patients who underwent TLE, morphological changes occurred in the nasal mucosa. The hyperplasia of the cells in the basal zone was the most remarkable change after TLE. The difference was statistically significant (p=0.0002) in comparison with the control group. No statistically significant difference was shown in the incidence of squamous cell metaplasia. The inflammatory changes in the nasal mucosa were found in only 10% of patients after TLE; in comparison with the control group the statistically significant decrease was proven (p=0.003). The presence of bacteria in the nasal mucosa without any signs of inflammation was demonstrated in 27% of the patients who underwent TLE. That finding was not seen in the control group. The statistically significant difference was demonstrated (p=0.0046).