Immunobiology in Otolaryngology

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Abstract
Immunologic aspects of otolaryngologic diseases are appearing in our literature, and clinical applications of these concepts are becoming available. The significance of these advances is obscured by the confusing terminology usually employed; however, the terminology can be mastered without much difficulty. The humoral and cellular divisions of the immune system have long been recognized. The humoral division of the immune system appears to play a major role in the prevention of infection, autoimmune disease, and atopic disease. The cellular division is probably most important in the prevention of neoplastic disease. There is overlap and the systems do interact. Future manipulations of the immune system may assist in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases such as chronic secretory otitis media, allergic rhinitis, and cancer of the head and neck.