Distributional characteristics of lymphatic vessels in normal human nasal mucosa and sinus mucosa.

An immunohistochemical staining technique with the D2-40 antibody was undertaken to examine the functional and morphological features of lymphatic networks in tissue sections and whole-mount preparations of normal nasal mucosa and ethmoid sinus mucosa. In normal nasal mucosa, most lymphatic vessels were found in the superficial mucosa beneath the epithelial layer. Some of these vessels were dilated, whereas others were compressed and had a slit-like lumen. Whole-mount preparations revealed the extent of lymphatic vessels in normal ethmoid sinus mucosa. A network of lymphatic vessels was mainly found in the subepithelial layer, where lymphatic vessels represented rich networks, possessing antler-like branches and typical blind ends. However, these lymphatic networks were not arranged in the form of lymphangion chains, with each lymphangion consisting of a contractile compartment and valve. Thus, recognition of the distinctive features of the lymphatic network in normal nasal and sinus mucosa might aid investigations of lymphatic involvement in sinonasal diseases, such as rhinitis, sinusitis, and malignancy.