Will nasal polyps grow back after they are removed?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on June 03, 2025
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Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngological condition. In terms of treatment, one can consider medication or surgical intervention. If there are numerous polyps and the clinical symptoms are severe, and standardized medication does not yield good results, then surgical treatment should be considered. However, there is still a possibility of recurrence in some patients after surgical removal. The main surgical procedure currently used is endoscopic nasal polyp removal surgery, which is minimally invasive and generally yields good results for most patients. However, regular follow-ups are necessary because there is a possibility of recurrence, particularly in patients with eosinophilic polyps, who tend to have a higher chance of recurrence.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
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Symptoms of nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are mucosal proliferative tissue masses caused by chronic inflammation or physical and chemical factors. Symptoms induced by nasal polyps primarily include nasal congestion, runny nose, nasal itchiness, and sneezing. Some patients may also experience headaches, nasal bleeding, and other related symptoms. For patients with nasal polyps, initial treatment should involve medication to control the growth of the polyps. Subsequently, functional endoscopic sinus surgery can be undertaken to excise the proliferative nasal polyp tissue under endoscopy, restoring the normal physiological environment and function of the nasal cavity, thereby completely alleviating symptoms of nasal congestion.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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How come there is bleeding from nasal polyps?

Patients with nasal polyps experiencing nosebleeds can have many causes. It might be due to hemorrhagic polyps, erosion of the nasal mucosa, dry nasal cavities, or rupture of small blood vessels. Some patients may have sinusitis accompanying their nasal polyps, with significant inflammatory responses that could also lead to nosebleeds. However, it's necessary to check for other conditions, such as nasopharyngeal angiofibroma, malignant tumors in the nasal cavity or sinuses, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, or blood disorders like coagulation dysfunction and thrombocytopenia. It is advisable to visit an ENT specialist and undergo nasopharyngoscopy, sinus CT scans, blood tests, and coagulation function tests to make an accurate diagnosis.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What impact do nasal polyps have on the throat?

Nasal polyps are a relatively common otolaryngological disease. If there are few nasal polyps, they generally do not directly affect the throat. However, if there are many nasal polyps, they can cause nasal congestion, open-mouth breathing, and the backflow of nasal mucus. These factors can irritate the throat, leading to pharyngitis or tonsillitis, which may cause symptoms like a sore and itchy throat and coughing, and may also cause recurrent tonsil inflammation. Therefore, in such cases, it is advisable to visit an otolaryngology clinic for a nasopharyngoscopy to assess the severity of the condition before proceeding with targeted treatment.

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Written by Li Mao Cai
Otolaryngology
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Do you need to be hospitalized for nasal polyp surgery?

The current nasal polyp surgery requires a general anesthesia and endoscopic nasal polypectomy. Since the surgery is performed under general anesthesia, more thorough preparations are made for hospitalized patients. The surgery demands high standards, thus preoperative blood tests and related cardiopulmonary function tests are necessary, requiring hospitalization. Additionally, after the surgery, nasal packing is needed to monitor the patient's recovery and to clean the nasal cavities and sinuses. Therefore, hospitalization is needed for this type of treatment, which generally lasts from 5 to 7 days from admission to discharge.

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Written by Zhang Jun
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are benign tumors that occur inside the nasal cavity. Generally, the appearance of nasal polyps is associated with chronic inflammatory stimulation, repeated irritation of the turbinate mucosa leading to congestion, edema, prolapse, and hyperplasia of the turbinate mucosa, which causes nasal polyps. They are also often secondary to allergic rhinitis. Nasal polyps can cause bilateral nasal congestion in patients, which tends to persist and worsen, while mucous secretions may also flow from the nasal cavity. In severe cases, patients may experience facial swelling, pain, headaches, and other related symptoms. During examination, pale white lychee-like, soft new growths that are usually painless can be found inside the nasal cavity. In terms of treatment, nasal polyps require endoscopic nasal polypectomy. The surgery requires hospitalization, general anesthesia, and postoperative antibiotics to prevent local infection. Patients can usually recover and be discharged about a week after the surgery. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)