Quantitative Histology of the Mucous Membrane of the Accessory Nasal Sinus and Mastoid Cavities

The mucous membranes of the accessory nasal sinuses and of the mastoid labyrinth were measured in undecalcified, plastic-embedded specimens from nonpathologic postmortem cases. Epithelial thicknesses, lamina propria thicknesses and the ratio of nuclear to total cell area of the epithelia are presented for these organs to provide a quantitative basis for dosimetric calculations of alpha-emitting radionuclides. These data will be of value for studies in populations at risk for head carcinomas from the intake of radium and related nuclides.