Histopathological changes of the nasal mucosa induced by smoking.

Changes in the histopathology of the respiratory epithelium in response to cigarette smoking have been studied in depth in the lungs, but data on the nasal lining are lacking. The aim of the present retrospective study was to investigate the histological changes that occur in the nasal mucosa of smokers compared with non-smokers. The study group included 47 patients who underwent partial resection of the inferior turbinates.