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Nasal polyps are the most common benign growths in the nasal cavity. There are many unanswered questions about the incidence, cause, and optimal treatment of these lesions.
Incidence; Causes & Development
Nasal Polyps are more common in adults than in children.
Polyps are seen with greater frequency in people with asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever), vasomotor rhinitis (may be caused by emotional upset or sexual arousal), and certain kinds of drug use, chronic sinus infections, and cystic fibrosis. They can be a sensitivity reaction to aspirin. About one out of four people with cystic fibrosis has nasal polyps. Frequently, no specific cause can be found.
Signs & Symptoms
Usually in both sides of the nose, polyps are essentially outgrowths of the nasal mucosa.
The polyps are smooth, gelatinous, semi-translucent, pear-shaped, and pink to white in color. The polyps originate near the ethmoid sinuses (located at the top of the nose on both sides of the nasal cavity) and grow into the open areas of the nasal cavity. They sometimes grow large and numerous enough to cause nasal obstruction.
Diagnosis & Tests
Nasal Polyps can occasionally be seen on exam with a nasal speculum. Sometimes they can only be seen with special equipment. Since polyps are devoid of sensation, they can be distinguished from other swollen tissues by a lack of pain on probing.
The clinical features of nasal polyps include nasal congestion (100%), loss of smell and/or taste (75%), sneezing and runny nose (60%), post-nasal drip (65%), facial pain (35%), and itchy eyes (25%).
Treatment & Prevention
Conventional medical treatment with a nasal steroid spray and/or a short course of oral corticosteroids is usually effective, shrinking or eliminating the polyps. Surgery to remove the polyps and infected material is recommended if the medical treatment is not successful.
The problem with these approaches is that they are not addressing the cause. The best form of treatment would be to find out what the patient is allergic to and try to eliminate it. This does not only mean what can be inhaled, it can also be an allergy to food substances as well. Complete allergy testing for inhaled substances and foods should be carried out. Electric acupuncture has also shown some positive results in the treatment of nasal polyps.
Complications
Nasal polyps are often a contributing factor to complicated bacterial sinus infections.
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Nasal Polyps suggests the following may be present:
Recommendations and treatments for Nasal Polyps:
KEY | | Proven definite or direct link |  | | Highly recommended |
GLOSSARY
Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)
Inflammation of the nasal mucous membranes that is caused by specific allergen(s). It is an allergy characterized by sneezing, itchy and watery eyes, a runny or stuffy nose, coughing and a burning/scratchy sensation of the palate and throat.
Allergy (Allergies)
Hypersensitivity caused by exposure to a particular antigen (allergen), resulting in an increased reactivity to that antigen on subsequent exposure, sometimes with harmful immunologic consequences.
Asthma (Asthmatic)
A lung disorder marked by attacks of breathing difficulty, wheezing, coughing, and thick mucus coming from the lungs. The episodes may be triggered by breathing foreign substances (allergens) or pollutants, infection, vigorous exercise, or emotional stress. Extrinsic Asthma is triggered by pollen, chemicals or some other external agent; Intrinsic Asthma is triggered by boggy membranes, congested tissues, or other native causes… even adrenalin stress or exertion.
Bacteria (Bacterial, Bacterium)
Microscopic germs. Some bacteria are "harmful" and can cause disease, while other "friendly" bacteria protect the body from harmful invading organisms.
Benign
Literally: innocent; not malignant. Often used to refer to cells that are not cancerous; they tend to grow slowly and don't spread (metastasize) like cancer tumors do.
Chronic (Chronicity)
Usually referring to chronic illness: Illness extending over a long period of time.
Corticosteroid (Corticosteroids)
Steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex.
Cystic Fibrosis
(CF) An incurable genetic disease involving a sticky buildup of mucus in the lungs (which makes breathing difficult and leads to infections), as well as pancreatic insufficiency (which leads to digestive problems). Symptoms include chronic cough producing thick mucus, excessive appetite combined with weight loss, intestinal disorders, salty sweat/skin and pneumonia. Lung-related problems are the most frequent cause of death. CF is a recessive disease, occurring only when a person inherits two mutated copies of the CF gene - one from each parent. Individuals with CF generally have a life expectancy of about 30 years.
Lesion (Lesions)
Any damage to tissue structure or function; an abnormal change in body tissue caused by disease or injury. A scar is a lesion, as is cancer, a stomach ulcer or a pimple.
Mucous Membranes (Mucosa, Mucous Membrane, Mucus Membranes)
The membranes, such as the mouth, nose, anus, and vagina, that line the cavities and canals of the body which communicate with the air.
Mucus (Mucous)
The viscous, slippery substance that consists chiefly of mucin, water, cells, and inorganic salts and is secreted as a protective lubricant coating by cells and glands of the mucous membranes.
Polyp (Polyps)
A usually nonmalignant growth or tumor protruding from the mucous lining of an organ such as the nose, bladder or intestine, often causing obstruction.
Post-Nasal Drip
A constant flow of mucous and discharge down the "back of the throat", generally caused by acute infection or allergies. This drip can in turn be responsible for the development of a secondary cough due to irritation of the larynx, and bronchospasm in asthmatic individuals.
Rhinitis
Inflammation of the sinus membranes and nasal mucous membrane, sometimes extending to the eyes and ears. It may be caused by a head cold, hay fever, or a chemical irritant.
Sinuses (Sinus)
Four pairs of air pockets lined with membranes in the bones around the nose. The ethmoid sinuses are located on each side of the nose between the eyes; the maxillary sinuses are located in the cheek above the teeth and below the eyes; the sphenoid sinuses are located deeply behind the eyes; the frontal sinuses are located in the forehead.
Steroid (Steroids)
Any of a large number of hormonal substances with a similar basic chemical structure containing a 17-carbon 14-ring system and including the sterols and various hormones and glycosides.
Last updated: Nov 14, 2009
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