Nasal polyps and adenoids are what kind of disease?

Written by Xu Qing Tian
Otolaryngology
Updated on February 08, 2025
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Nasal polyps and adenoids are two different diseases, and they are common conditions in otolaryngology. Patients with nasal polyps usually experience growths on the surface of the nasal mucosa, which primarily cause symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, headaches, and sinus blockages. On the other hand, adenoid hypertrophy mainly occurs in infants and young children, with a high incidence in the 5-7 year age group. Patients with adenoid hypertrophy often experience symptoms like breath-holding, lack of oxygen, and sleep apnea during the night, which can be definitively diagnosed through sleep monitoring tests. Currently, the main treatment for patients with nasal polyps and adenoid hypertrophy involves surgical removal of the nasal polyp tissue and ablation of the adenoid tissue to restore normal physiological functions of the entire nasopharyngeal cavity.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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Conservative treatment methods for nasal polyps

Conservative treatment for nasal polyps is mainly applicable to cases with smaller range and less severe symptoms. Generally, it is advisable to begin with some nasal endoscopy to assess the extent of the condition. The primary treatment method considered is nasal sprays, particularly corticosteroid nasal sprays, and additionally, physiological saline can be used to cleanse the nasal cavity. If accompanied by rhinitis and sinusitis, it may also be necessary to consider treatment with oral medication. Overall, most patients see some effectiveness with conservative treatment, but there may be recurrence or cases where conservative treatment is not effective, and surgery might be considered as an option.

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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 Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What are the symptoms of nasal polyps?

Nasal polyps are a fairly common otolaryngological condition with a relatively high incidence clinically. There is significant individual variation in clinical symptoms. Some patients have few nasal polyps and might not show obvious clinical symptoms; these are often discovered only during a physical examination or a nasopharyngoscopy. Other patients may experience nasal congestion, a runny nose, reduced sense of smell, headaches, and dizziness. In cases where the polyps are particularly numerous and have been present for a long time, they may even cause deformities of the nose, such as a "frog nose" or "saddle nose." In such cases, timely surgical treatment should be considered, and regular follow-up inspections are needed to monitor for any recurrence.

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Written by Li Rui
Otolaryngology
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What should I do if the nasal polyps are inflamed?

Nasal polyps accompanied by infection and inflammation are relatively common. This situation generally pertains to nasal polyps, rhinitis, and sinusitis. If the inflammatory response is particularly severe, it may be considered an acute bacterial infection, and generally, the use of antibiotics should be considered, along with nasal sprays and saline nasal irrigation. Some patients can achieve effective control and relief after standardized medication treatment. If the nasal polyps are widespread and the inflammatory response is severe, surgery might be necessary to remove them. Post-surgery, regular follow-ups are needed because both nasal polyps and inflammation can recur.

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Written by Deng Bang Yu
Otolaryngology
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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.