Can nasal polyps be treated with medication?

Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
Updated on November 17, 2024
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Nasal polyps can be considered for drug treatment, primarily depending on the severity of the nasal polyps. If the condition of the nasal polyps is not particularly severe, most patients can consider conservative drug treatment. Common treatments include nasal spray medications, and the nasal cavity can also be rinsed with saline. If the patient also has rhinitis or sinusitis, oral medication may need to be considered. However, during the treatment process, regular follow-up examinations are necessary to observe the treatment effects. If the effects of medication are not satisfactory and the condition of the nasal polyps is more severe, surgical removal may need to be considered. After surgery, regular follow-up examinations are still necessary to monitor the effects of the surgery.

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symptoms of malignant nasal polyps

The symptoms caused by the malignant transformation of nasal polyps mainly involve significant destruction and invasion of the surrounding bone, leading to the destruction of the skull base and orbital tissues. Patients may experience eye pain, decreased vision, headaches, and bleeding. For patients with malignant transformation of nasal polyps, diagnosis is primarily made through an electronic nasopharyngoscopy biopsy, taking a portion of the pathological tissue for confirmation. Typically, after confirming malignancy, functional endoscopic sinus surgery should be performed promptly to remove the malignant nasal polyp tissue and extend the resection to the invaded bone. This is usually complemented by radiation therapy or chemotherapy to prevent recurrence of the malignant nasal polyps.

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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.

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Nasal polyps CT manifestations

Nasal polyps are benign neoplasms of the nasal area. On a CT scan, they primarily appear as increased density shadows in the nasal cavity and sinus cavity. These shadows have a definite shape, which is why we see nasal polyps as oval-shaped. Secondly, the density of the nasal polyps can be distinctively differentiated from the surrounding densities; the density of the surrounding bone is very high, while the density of the nasal polyps is relatively direct, appearing as a gray density shadow. Thirdly, we observe accompanying inflammatory changes in the nasal cavity and sinus cavity on the nasal polyps, such as thickened sinus cavity mucosa and, in some cases, the presence of purulent secretions due to inflammatory infections, as seen on the CT scan.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What medicine is effective for nasal polyps?

The treatment of nasal polyps currently mainly includes two types: conservative treatment and surgical treatment. For smaller, localized nasal polyps with relatively mild clinical symptoms, conservative drug treatment is primarily considered. Currently, corticosteroid nasal sprays are predominantly used, mainly to improve nasal ventilation, reduce mucosal edema, and shrink the nasal polyps. Some patients may even see the polyps disappear completely. However, there are also patients who do not respond well to this treatment, or have relatively large polyps. In these cases, conservative treatment may be less effective, and surgery might be considered. Presently, minimally invasive surgery under endoscopic guidance is commonly performed to remove nasal polyps, and generally, the outcomes are quite definite. (Answer for reference only, medications should be taken under the guidance of a professional physician and not self-administered.)

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Nasal polyps minimally invasive surgery how long

Minimally invasive surgery for nasal polyps usually refers to functional endoscopic sinus surgery. In patients with nasal polyps obstructing the nasal passages, the polyps are removed under visualization using a nasal endoscope. For patients with bilateral nasal polyps, the surgery generally lasts about one to one and a half hours. Patients with nasal polyps typically experience significant symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and headaches. These polyps block the sinus openings, affecting sinus drainage, thus surgery is usually necessary. After undergoing functional endoscopic sinus surgery, patients should avoid hot baths, foot baths, and vigorous exercise to prevent post-operative bleeding due to increased blood circulation.