Cytologic distinctions between clinical groups using curette-probe compared to cytology brush.

Background: We had previously used curette-probe (Rhinoprobe; Arlington Scientific, Springville, UT) to study nasal cytology in various types of patients. Because of the potential sampling ease of using a brush, we sought to compare cytological results obtained with a curette-probe with those obtained using a cytology brush (Cytobrush Plus; Medscand, Malmö, Sweden).

Objective: To compare the ability of samples of nasal leukocytes obtained with a curette-probe versus a cytology brush to distinguish clinical categories of patients attending an allergy clinic.

Methods: Adult allergy clinic patients were studied by both curette-probe and cytology brush sampling. Quantitation of eosinophils and total leukocytes was performed on samples. Comparisons of cell quantities for each sampling method were made in patients classified into clinical groups. Patients with rhinitis complaints and abnormalities of nasal mucosal appearance with or without aeroallergy were compared with other patients. The adjustment of leukocyte quantities for the numbers of epithelial cells observed was also analyzed. Sampling methods were also compared for receiver operating characteristics.

Results: Curette-probe sample leukocyte quantities distinguished patients with symptoms of rhinitis (SR) with abnormal nasal appearance from other patients. This between-group distinction was more significant for leukocyte numbers normalized for the number of epithelial cells. SR patients with both abnormal nasal appearance and aeroallergy had significantly more eosinophils and less goblet cells than other patients. Greater than five curette-probe eosinophils were only observed in patients with SR. Brush samples did not show differences between patients stratified in these ways, and eosinophils were observed in patients without SR. Receiver operating characteristics favored curette-probe samples in terms of leukocyte or eosinophil increases characterizing their respective symptomatic patient subgroups.

Conclusions: Curette-probe-obtained nasal samples allow for leukocyte and eosinophil quantitations which characterize rhinitis patients better than brush-obtained samples. Total leukocyte quantitations obtained by curette-probe may represent a marker of inflammatory nasal disease in adults undergoing allergy evaluation and treatment for rhinitis.