Nasal epithelium in woodworkers in the furniture industry. A histological and cytological study.

The incidence of nasal adenocarcinoma is greatly increased in wood dust exposed furniture workers. The background is discussed and histological and cytological examinations are performed in 45 workers. The histological findings are compared with different kinds of cytological methods, May-Grünwald-Giemsa and Papanicolau. It was a significant increase in cuboidal cell metaplasia revealed by histology and Papanicolau stained cytology. MGG, on the other hand, revealed significantly raised occurrence of goblet cell hyperplasia. These findings are discussed in relation to a morphogenetical model which could explain some features in the development of premalignant changes which could precede nasal adenocarcinomas.