Do nasal polyps have to be operated on?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on June 17, 2025
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Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngological disease, and treatment does not necessarily require surgery. Currently, there are mainly two treatment plans considered: the first is medication treatment, and the second is surgical treatment. If the nasal polyps are few and the clinical symptoms are not particularly severe, the first consideration would be conservative medication treatment. Commonly used are corticosteroid nasal sprays, along with saline nasal rinses. Treatment is effective for most patients, but regular follow-ups are needed to monitor the recovery. If there are many nasal polyps and standardized medication treatment is ineffective, surgical treatment needs to be considered. Currently, the commonly used method is endoscopic nasal polyp removal surgery, which is a minimally invasive surgery with generally good results. (Medication use should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

Other Voices

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is there a high possibility that nasal polyps are malignant?

Nasal polyps are a type of benign neoplasm in the nasal cavity, appearing as half a lychee, translucent, and either oval or ovoid in shape. They occupy the normal passages of the nasal cavity, causing symptoms such as nasal congestion, and even headaches in the head or forehead area. Nasal polyps are benign neoplasms and rarely develop into malignant lesions. Clinically, there have been no cases seen where nasal polyps have turned malignant. Some growths that look like nasal polyps may actually be nasal papillomas, which are more prone to malignancy. Therefore, it is recommended that patients with nasal polyps undergo early surgical intervention followed by a pathological examination to differentiate them from nasal papillomas and to assess the prognosis of the condition.

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Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
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Can nasal polyps sinusitis be cured completely?

Sinusitis refers to the inflammation of one or more groups of nasal sinuses, often accompanied by nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are lychee-like, semitransparent, grayish-white growths that are soft in texture and visible inside the nasal cavity. In such cases, it is advisable to consider functional endoscopic sinus surgery under general anesthesia and nasal endoscopy to remove the polyps and ethmoid sinuses. After the surgery, it is essential to perform regular cleaning, reduce inflammation, and provide antihistamine treatment, as sinusitis often leads to the recurrence of nasal polyps. Furthermore, allergens can also trigger the recurrence of nasal polyps. Therefore, after surgery, regular follow-ups, anti-inflammatory, and antihistamine treatments are necessary. Generally, with such management, nasal polyps and sinusitis can be effectively cured.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Do small nasal polyps need surgery?

Nasal polyps are a relatively common nasal disease. In terms of treatment, if the nasal polyps are minimal, surgery may not be necessary initially. The first consideration can be conservative drug treatment. After timely medication, most patients may find their nasal polyps gradually shrink and might even disappear. However, regular follow-ups are required to monitor changes in the condition. If the nasal polyps do not improve with conservative drug treatment, surgical removal should be considered. Currently, endoscopic surgery is commonly used, which is a minimally invasive procedure with relatively mild damage, shorter recovery time, and generally good treatment outcomes. (Please use medication under the guidance of a professional physician.)

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Can nasal polyps be cured without surgery?

Patients with nasal polyps usually cannot be completely cured without surgery. The formation of nasal polyps is mainly related to the patient's long-term smoking and drinking, pollution in the living environment, and stimulation from physical and chemical factors, which lead to the proliferation of nasal mucosal epithelium and edema. Patients with nasal polyps will have obvious symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headaches, and sinusitis. The use of medications to treat nasal polyps can only relieve symptoms such as nasal congestion. For a complete cure, functional endoscopic sinus surgery is required to remove the nasal polyps and open the sinus ostia, restoring the normal physiological environment of the nasal cavity, to achieve the therapeutic goal. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Can nasal polyps be treated conservatively?

Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngologic condition. Some patients may consider conservative treatment, particularly when the severity of the nasal polyps is mild. If, after standard conservative medication treatment, the severity of the nasal polyps does not gradually improve but instead worsens, or if the initial severity of the nasal polyps is high, conservative medication treatment may not be effective. In such cases, surgical treatment should be considered. Currently, the most common procedure is endoscopic nasal polyp removal surgery, which is a minimally invasive surgery. Overall, the surgery tends to have good outcomes and relatively minor damage. However, it requires regular check-ups to monitor the effectiveness of the surgery.