Pre-cancerous changes in the nasal mucosa of atrophic rhinitis: A preliminary report.

Metaplasia is a known predisposing factor to malignancy. As squamous metaplasia is a regular feature of atrophic rhinitis, its relationship with cancer is examined in this cross-sectional study. Random punch biopsies of nasal mucosa obtained from 14 patients (6 male and 8 female) suffering from primary atrophic rhinins were studied. Squamous metaplasia was noted in 64%. Epithelial dysplasia and in-situ malignant transformation were noted in one patient each. This preliminary report suggests that the association of atrophic rhimitis and pre-cancerous lesions appear to be more than coincidental and it deserves further studies.