01-21-2009, 11:48 PM
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 Nasal polyps - Overview
Nasal polyps Details At A Glance: Quote: Nasal polyps are fleshy swellings that grow on the lining of your nose or sinuses (the small, air-filled cavities above and behind your nose). They may be yellowish, grey or pink in colour and can vary greatly in size. A nasal polyp will be shaped like a teardrop when it's growing, and look like a peeled grape attached by a narrow stalk when it's fully grown. Polyps grow singly or in clusters and usually affect both nostrils.
Nasal polyps are the result of inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose or sinuses. A mucous membrane is the moist tissue that lines organs and body cavities such as the nose, mouth and lungs. Exactly what triggers inflammation of the membranes isn't always clear.
Nasal polyps can interfere with breathing if they grow large enough or if they grow in a cluster. They can reduce sense of smell by blocking the flow of air to the sensitive areas in the roof of the nose that control smell. They can also block the holes through which mucus drains and air flows through the sinuses to ventilate them. This blockage can lead to sinusitis.
Nasal polyps are common and are not cancerous. About one in 100 people will develop nasal polyps at some point in their life. They are more common in men than women, and in people over 40. Nasal polyps are rare in children, although some children with cystic fibrosis may develop them. |  Quote: What causes nasal polyps?
The cause of nasal polyps is not well understood. Some believe that they result from an allergy to things in the atmosphere, while others believe that they are caused by a sinus infection.
| Quote: What symptoms do they cause?
Polyps block the nose. Large polyps can prevent nasal breathing, forcing the individual to breathe through their mouth. They also cause reduced sense of smell. Occasionally, they swell so much that they emerge from the nostril.
| Quote: When should you seek medical attention?
There are a number of more common causes of nasal obstruction, including a deviated nasal septum and inflammation of the nasal lining (rhinitis).
If you have a severely blocked nose, you should see your doctor. Inspection of the nose will reveal the presence of polyps. Your doctor will usually refer you to an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist if polyps are seen.
| Quote: Does medical treatment help?
Nasal sprays and drops containing corticosteroids can shrink the polyps in some cases. A single small polyp is occasionally cured by this type of treatment. Corticosteroid tablets have a similar effect, but can only be used as a short course because of the side effects they can cause. They may be required initially to shrink larger polyps.
| Quote: How are polyps usually treated?
The most effective treatment for nasal blockage due to polyps is surgical removal. Most specialists will arrange an X-ray called a CT scan to show the extent of polyp tissue in the sinuses and the layout of the bony partitions between the sinuses, the orbit (the bone around the eye) and the interior of the skull.
Removal is generally carried out using a telescope (endoscope) to look inside the nose. In some cases the polyps are simply cleared from the nose itself. In other cases, polyp tissue is also removed from the sinuses.
| Quote: Are there any risks associated with polyp surgery?
There is the risk of bleeding from the nose or a black eye due to damage to the wall between the nose.
If the sinuses are cleared as well as the nose, there is a risk of the surgeon's instruments entering surrounding areas. Within the orbit, the eye and its muscles are at risk of damage. Entering the interior of the skull causes a leakage of fluid from around the brain (CSF leak).
These complications are uncommon and can usually be avoided by having a CT scan available at the time of surgery.
| Quote: Do polyps grow again?
Unfortunately, removing nasal polyps does not always prevent them from growing back. They may return a number of years after surgery.
Surgical removal can be repeated if necessary.
Using a steroid nasal spray on a regular basis can sometimes prevent recurrence of polyps, and should also be seen as the first line of treatment, in the hope of avoiding surgery at all. | Illustration shows the frontal (A), maxillary (B) and ethmoid (C) sinuses (upper left). In endoscopic sinus surgery, your doctor uses an endoscope and tiny cutting tools to open the blocked passage and restore natural drainage (lower right).
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Last edited by trimurtulu; 01-21-2009 at 11:51 PM.
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