Histochemical changes in hypertrophic rhinitis before and after ultrasonic

Chronic hypertrophic rhinitis is a chronic nasal disease maru-fested by thickening of the nasal mucosa. This thickening IS foundnot only in infective but also in allergic and vasomotor rhinitis.The hypertrophy of the nasal mucosa is accompanied by dischargewhich varies from watery to thick mucopurulent discharge as aresult of infection (Dolowitz , 1966).Ultrasound has been used as a therapeutic agent In physicalmedicine for over forty years, but there have been few reports ofcontrolled clinical trials aimed at evaluating its effeciency objectivelyin E.N.T.The aim of this work is to evaluate ultrasound as a therapeuticagent In the treatment of chronic hypertrophic rhinitis clinically,histopathologically and histochemically.Our study included forty patients suffering from chronichypertrophic rhinitis. All cases were assessed clinically and radio-logically. Biopsy was taken from the inferior turbinate under localanaesthesia for histopathological studies usmg Haematoxylin andEosin stain and for histochemical studies to demonstrate the activityof succinic dehydrogenase enzyme, alkaline phosphatase enzyme andacid phosphatase enzyme. In addition, alcian blue stain and periodicacid schiff reaction (P.A.S.) were used to demonstrate rnucopoly-saccharides.