Can nasal polyps become cancerous?

Written by Yao Jun
Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
Updated on March 04, 2025
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Nasal polyps are growths in the nasal cavity mucosa that form due to inflammation, edema, and the effects of gravity, resembling lychee-like neoplasms. They are relatively soft and do not bleed easily upon formation. Their stalk mainly originates from the middle nasal meatus, making nasal polyps a benign tissue lesion that will not become cancerous. However, prolonged growth of polyps may lead to deformation of the nasal cavity, obstructing ventilation and drainage, which can cause sinusitis, nasal congestion, headaches, and more. Therefore, early-stage nasal polyps can be conservatively treated with internal medicine. If there is nasal obstruction, aggressive growth, or purulent nasal discharge, surgical treatment is generally recommended to prevent recurrence.

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Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
1min 3sec home-news-image

Does everyone have nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are not something everyone has. The main causes of nasal polyps are related to the patient's smoking, drinking, and long-term exposure to physical and chemical factors in the air, which lead to the proliferation of redundant tissue on the surface of the nasal mucosa, blocking the patient's middle nasal passage and nasal vestibule, thereby causing symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and headaches. When patients with nasal polyps experience nasal congestion and runny nose, our first approach should be anti-inflammatory and symptomatic treatment. Next, it is necessary to perform a thorough diagnosis with an electronic nasopharyngoscope and paranasal sinus CT scan. After a confirmed diagnosis, patients with nasal polyps usually need functional endoscopic sinus surgery, which involves removing the polyp tissue blocking the nasal cavity and opening the sinus openings to restore the normal physiological environment and drainage of the nasal cavity.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
47sec home-news-image

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.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
1min 8sec home-news-image

Postoperative precautions for nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are a common disease in otolaryngology, head, and neck surgery. The primary treatment for nasal polyps is functional endoscopic surgery to remove them. After the surgery, it is important to keep the following in mind: First, it is important to keep the nasal cavity clean. Clean the nasal cavity daily with saline solution and use some medications for treatment. Second, regularly visit the hospital to have the nasal cavity cleaned by the surgeon who performed the operation. Typically, the surgeon will instruct when to return for a follow-up visit, or schedule an appointment. Third, for nasal polyps, surgery is not the end of the treatment. It is generally necessary to continue daily medicinal treatment of the nasal cavity. Immediately after the surgery, it may also be necessary to take anti-inflammatory medications, such as roxithromycin or clarithromycin, for treatment. In summary, treatment and nasal cavity cleaning must continue even after surgery for nasal polyps. (Note: Please use medications under the guidance of a clinical doctor.)

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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Is surgery necessary for nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are benign neoplasms that occupy the spaces of the nasal cavity and sinuses. Clinically, once nasal polyps appear, they are generally removed through surgery. Currently, the main clinical approach is functional endoscopic sinus surgery. For some early-stage small nasal polyps, medications such as corticosteroids, methylprednisolone, and prednisone can be used for treatment, which can cause the gradual disappearance of very small polyps, a process known as chemical resection. In clinical practice, when nasal polyps are detected, they are usually relatively large, so once polyps are discovered during a hospital visit, treatment is typically conducted through surgery.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
49sec home-news-image

Do nasal polyps need surgery?

Some nasal polyps require surgery, mainly due to the extensive area they cover. For instance, if the nasal polyps have invaded the nasal cavity, middle nasal meatus, and lower nasal meatus, they can cause corresponding clinical symptoms. These symptoms include repeated nasal congestion, thick nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell, headache, dizziness, snoring during sleep, and mouth breathing. When there are many nasal polyps, conservative treatment usually does not yield particularly good results, therefore, surgical removal must be considered. Currently, the main surgical approach is minimally invasive endoscopic nasal polyp removal. Generally, this type of surgery causes minimal harm, has a quicker recovery time, and the overall outcomes are quite clear.