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Nasal polyps
How to treat nasal polyps?
The treatment of nasal polyps mainly centers on surgical intervention as part of a comprehensive treatment strategy, due to the variety of causes and factors leading to the condition. Moreover, some nasal polyps are prone to recurrence. The first choice is surgical treatment, which involves thoroughly clearing the nasal polyps and then addressing any anatomical and inflammatory factors that may cause them. For example, correcting a deviated nasal septum, opening the sinuses, and relieving chronic sinus inflammation. Postoperatively, it is crucial to actively provide hormonal treatment, including nasal and oral steroids, tailored to the individual's needs. Concurrently, it is important to maintain nasal irrigation and regular follow-up cleanings. Postoperative pathological results help assess the likelihood of recurrence, and for types prone to recurrence, intensified follow-up measures are necessary.
Can you smoke if you have nasal polyps?
Patients with nasal polyps are advised not to smoke. This is because cigarettes are quite irritating and can affect the nasal mucosa and the normal structures inside the nasal cavity, potentially aggravating the condition of nasal polyps, as well as possibly causing nasal congestion or acute upper respiratory infections, all of which could worsen the existing condition. In terms of treatment, it is first necessary to assess the severity of the condition. Some patients may opt for conservative drug treatment, while those with more severe conditions, where conservative drug treatment is ineffective, may need to consider surgical removal. After surgery, regular follow-ups are necessary to monitor the effects of the operation.
Does nasal polyps require a biopsy?
Nasal polyps are benign space-occupying lesions in our nasal cavity and sinus cavity. They primarily appear as a pineapple peel-like or half a lychee-like neoplasm. They lack blood vessels and nerves, so nasal polyps generally do not undergo biopsy unless there is suspicion of malignant transformation, in which case a biopsy is performed. Typically, nasal polyps are treated surgically by removing them during surgery, then the excised tissue is sent for pathological examination to determine if the polyps are benign or malignant. Therefore, generally speaking, nasal polyps do not undergo biopsy.
What will happen if nasal polyps worsen?
If nasal polyps deteriorate, it might lead to associated clinical symptoms, commonly including nasal congestion, runny nose, bloody nasal discharge, headaches, dizziness, and a reduced sense of smell. A small portion of patients may also experience malignant transformation. The specific clinical symptoms vary from individual to individual. After the onset of the condition, it is necessary to promptly visit an otolaryngology department. Undergoing a sinus CT and endoscopic examination can help assess the severity and extent of the condition. Regarding treatment, some patients may consider conservative medication treatment, but others with more severe conditions where the medication is ineffective might need to consider surgical treatment.
Do nasal polyps require hospitalization?
Nasal polyps refer to polypoid changes or neoplasms on the nasal turbinates within the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity. They are translucent, lychee-like neoplasms that are relatively soft and do not bleed easily when removed, and some may produce mucus. Therefore, patients with nasal polyps and sinusitis who do not respond to conservative medication treatment typically need to be hospitalized for surgical treatment. The hospital stay for sinusitis associated with nasal polyps is generally about ten days. The surgery is performed under functional endoscopy, and post-surgery, it is necessary to undergo anti-histamine desensitization therapy and anti-inflammatory medication treatment to better prevent the recurrence of nasal polyps.
How to completely treat nasal polyps?
A thorough treatment for nasal polyps is surgical treatment; this includes a combination of post-surgical medication and regular follow-up examinations for a comprehensive treatment. First, it is important to identify the cause of the nasal polyps, which often stem from chronic inflammation in the nasal cavity or sinuses leading to mucosal polypoid changes and consequently, nasal polyps. For instance, common conditions like allergic rhinitis can also lead to nasal polyps over time. After removing the polyps through surgery, it is necessary to treat allergies as well, because without managing the allergies, the polyps might recur quickly. Additionally, after the surgery, it's important to conduct a pathological examination to check if there is an increase in eosinophil count; with more than 27% increase, the chance of recurrence is quite high. According to some reports, eosinophilic type nasal polyps have a recurrence rate of up to 90%. Therefore, regular postoperative reviews and cleanings are essential to prevent recurrence and are key to achieving a cure.
Nasal Polyps Symptoms and Hazards
Nasal polyp symptoms are quite varied, and these mainly relate to the number of nasal polyps, the severity of the polyps, and the subjective feelings of the patient. If the nasal polyps are small, there may not be obvious clinical symptoms, and the patient might not feel any discomfort; these polyps might only be discovered during a physical examination. If there are more significant numbers of polyps, they can cause common clinical symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headache, dizziness, reduced sense of smell, and snoring during sleep. If the nasal polyps are severe, they might even lead to changes in the external shape of the nose, such as a saddle nose or a crooked nose, and in severe cases, they could induce comprehensive sinusitis.
Do nasal polyps have to be surgically removed?
Nasal polyps are common in otolaryngology and frequently recurring. If a patient with nasal polyps does not exhibit significant symptoms, they can be managed with observation and the targeted use of local anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the growth and enlargement of the polyps. If the patient experiences significant symptoms such as bilateral nasal obstruction, pus discharge, or headaches linked to the condition, surgery should be considered. Functional endoscopic sinus surgery can be performed under video guidance to thoroughly remove the affected mucosa and polypoid tissue in the nasal cavity, thereby curing the patient. (Please use medication under the guidance of a doctor.)
Can nasal polyps turn into nasal cancer?
Nasal polyps are benign neoplasms in the nasal cavity or sinus cavity, appearing as translucent, lychee-like formations without the distribution of nerves and blood vessels. Generally, nasal polyps cannot become cancerous unless they are long affected by other factors, such as possible concurrent conditions like papillomas or mucosal lesions, which could then transform into malignant tumors. However, the likelihood of nasal polyps directly transforming into malignant tumors is extremely rare, and such clinical cases are almost nonexistent. Therefore, from the perspective of pathology or clinical studies, the possibility of nasal polyps turning into nasal cancer is exceedingly small.
How is anesthesia administered for nasal polyps?
Nasal polyps are a relatively common ENT disorder, and if there are numerous polyps with clear clinical symptoms and conservative drug treatment is ineffective, surgery should be considered. Currently, the primary procedure is endoscopic nasal polyp removal, which is a commonly used minimally invasive surgery. Generally, the level of pain experienced by patients is not particularly significant. Therefore, in terms of anesthesia, it may be suitable to consider either general anesthesia or local anesthesia. If the nasal polyps are not particularly severe and the patient has a good tolerance, local anesthesia can be considered. However, if the condition is more severe and symptoms are clearly pronounced, it is generally advised that general anesthesia might be a better option.