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Persistent nasal congestion, reduced sense of smell, and difficulty breathing through the nose may be associated not only with a cold or allergy. One of the common causes of such symptoms is nasal polyps. In the early stages, they may not cause significant discomfort, but over time they are capable of substantially worsening quality of life.
Timely consultation with an otolaryngologist allows determining the cause of impaired nasal breathing, assessing the condition of the nasal mucosa, and choosing the optimal treatment strategy. You can schedule a consultation by phone or through the online appointment form on the website.
Nasal polyps are benign formations of the mucous membrane of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses. As they increase in size, they can partially or completely block the nasal passages, because of which it becomes more difficult for a person to breathe through the nose.
According to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), nasal polyps are one of the common causes of chronic impairment of nasal breathing in adults.
Most often, nasal polyps develop in the area of the paranasal sinuses and gradually extend into the nasal cavity. Because of this, the disease may remain unnoticed by the patient for a long time and manifest itself only as periodic nasal congestion or reduced sense of smell.
Doctors of “Oxford Medical” note that the symptoms of polyps may be similar to the manifestations of allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, and other diseases of the ENT organs. That is why, to establish an accurate diagnosis, it is important to undergo an examination by an otolaryngologist and the necessary examinations.
The exact mechanism of polyp formation is still being studied, however it is known that their appearance is most often associated with prolonged inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose and paranasal sinuses. Constant irritation of the mucosa leads to its swelling and structural changes, as a result of which polypous growths may form.
The most common causes and risk factors include:
According to European Position Paper on Rhinosinusitis and Nasal Polyps (EPOS), a significant proportion of patients have concomitant allergic diseases or bronchial asthma, which indicates a close connection between chronic inflammation of the respiratory tract and the formation of polyps.
Most often, nasal polyps in adults are detected at the age after 30–40 years. At the same time, the disease may also develop at a younger age, especially in the presence of chronic inflammatory processes or allergic diseases.
Determining the type of polyps and the stage of the disease helps the doctor assess the severity of disorders and choose the most effective treatment strategy.
Depending on the site of formation, the following are distinguished:
Each of these types has its own characteristics and may require a different approach to treatment.
Depending on the size and degree of blockage of the nasal passages, several stages are conditionally distinguished:
| Stage | Characteristic |
| Stage I | The polyps are small and occupy an insignificant part of the nasal passage. Nasal breathing is usually preserved or impaired insignificantly. |
| Stage II | The formations increase and partially block the nasal passages. Nasal congestion, worsening of the sense of smell, and difficulty breathing appear. |
| Stage III | The polyps increase significantly and may almost completely block the nasal passages, causing pronounced impairment of nasal breathing. |
The manifestations of the disease depend on the size of the neoplasms, their localization, and
the degree of impairment of nasal breathing.
The most common symptoms include:
persistent or frequent nasal congestion;
reduction or loss of sense of smell;
difficulty breathing through the nose;
discharge of mucus from the nose.
As nasal polyps increase in size, they may increasingly disrupt the passage of air through the nasal passages. Because of this, patients often breathe through the mouth, especially during sleep, which may be accompanied by dryness in the throat and snoring. Feelings of pressure in the facial area, headache, changes in voice timbre, and frequent exacerbations of sinusitis are also possible.
Doctors of “Oxford Medical” note that prolonged impairment of nasal breathing may negatively affect sleep quality, work capacity, and general well-being. In some cases, patients also complain of concomitant pharyngitis, which may develop due to constant mouth breathing.
To establish a diagnosis, the otolaryngologist analyzes the patient's complaints and performs an examination of the nasal cavity. In many cases, neoplasms can be suspected already during the initial appointment, however additional examinations may be needed to clarify their size, localization, and extent.
If necessary, the following may be prescribed:
Endoscopic examination allows the doctor to examine the nasal cavity in detail and determine the localization of polyps. To assess the condition of the paranasal sinuses and the extent of the process, CT of the nasal sinuses is often used. It is during such an examination that polyps in the nasal sinus may be detected, which are not always visible during a routine examination.
In the presence of concomitant diseases of the respiratory system, additional examinations may be needed. In particular, bronchoscopy may be used to assess the condition of the bronchi and exclude concomitant pathology.
Doctors of “Oxford Medical” note that accurate diagnosis is important when choosing treatment tactics. It allows determining whether conservative treatment is possible, or whether surgical intervention may be recommended to the patient.
The treatment tactics depend on the size of the neoplasms, the severity of symptoms, and the degree of impairment of nasal breathing. In the early stages, the doctor may recommend medication therapy, while with significant overgrowth of polypous tissue, surgical treatment is often required.
Conservative treatment of polyps in the nose may be used to reduce inflammation of the mucous membrane, slow the growth of neoplasms, and relieve symptoms. In such cases, the doctor may prescribe:
Doctors of “Oxford Medical” note that medication treatment of nasal polyps does not always make it possible to completely eliminate polypous formations, however it often helps reduce their size and improve nasal breathing.
Not all patients need surgical treatment. The doctor makes the decision about surgery individually, taking into account the size of the neoplasms, the severity of symptoms, and the effectiveness of conservative therapy.
Surgery to remove polyps in the nose may be recommended in the following cases:
The main method of removing polyps in the nose is polypotomy — an operation during which the doctor removes the neoplasms and restores the patency of the nasal passages. Today, nasal polypotomy is most often performed by an endoscopic method using special equipment, which makes it possible to remove pathological tissues as accurately as possible and preserve the healthy structures of the nasal cavity.
The duration of recovery after surgery depends on the extent of the intervention, the individual characteristics of the body, and the presence of concomitant diseases. In most cases, already during the first weeks after surgery, nasal breathing gradually improves and the sense of smell is restored.
In the postoperative period, the doctor may recommend:
It is important to follow all the doctor's prescriptions even with rapid improvement in well-being. This helps the nasal mucosa fully recover and reduces the risk of repeated growth of polyps.
Recommendations after removal of polyps in the nose may differ depending on the specifics of the performed surgery and the course of the postoperative period. That is why the recovery plan is always drawn up individually.
Like any surgical intervention, polypotomy may be accompanied by certain risks and requires following the doctor's recommendations in the postoperative period.
Possible complications include:
Doctors of “Oxford Medical” note that the risk of serious complications after endoscopic removal of polyps is low. At the same time, for successful recovery, it is important to follow the prescribed treatment and not miss follow-up examinations.
Special attention should be paid to the appearance of heavy bleeding, an increase in body temperature, severe pain, or a sharp worsening of well-being after surgery. In such cases, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible.
It is impossible to completely exclude the risk of polyp formation, however timely treatment of nasal diseases and control of factors that maintain chronic inflammation of the mucous membrane help reduce the likelihood of their appearance and repeated growth after treatment.
For prevention, it is recommended to:
Doctors of “Oxford Medical” recommend not ignoring prolonged nasal congestion, worsening of the sense of smell, and other symptoms of impaired nasal breathing. Early diagnosis allows detecting polypous changes at the initial stages and starting treatment in a timely manner.
Special attention to prevention should be paid by patients with chronic rhinosinusitis, allergic rhinitis, and other diseases that are accompanied by prolonged inflammation of the mucous membrane of the nose.
The cost of treatment depends on the clinical situation. In some cases, medication therapy and observation are sufficient, while in others, surgical intervention may be recommended to restore nasal breathing. You can preliminarily find out what the price for removal of polyps in the nose is here.
After the examination and the necessary diagnostics, the otolaryngologist will assess the size and extent of the polyps, determine the optimal treatment tactics, and provide more detailed information about its cost. To schedule a consultation with an otolaryngologist, leave a request through the online appointment form on the website or call the contact center.
The information in the article is provided for informational purposes and is not an instruction for self-diagnosis and treatment. If symptoms of the disease appear, you should consult a doctor.
Sources:
Not always. If they are small and do not cause pronounced symptoms, the doctor may recommend observation or medication treatment. Surgery is usually performed in case of significant impairment of nasal breathing or ineffectiveness of conservative therapy.
No, neoplasms usually do not disappear and do not come out on their own. Without treatment, they may gradually increase and worsen impairment of nasal breathing.
Small neoplasms may not cause significant discomfort for a long time. However, even in such cases, observation by an otolaryngologist is recommended, since they may increase and cause the appearance of symptoms.
Without treatment, they may increase, worsen nasal congestion, impair the sense of smell, and contribute to frequent exacerbations of chronic sinusitis. This may negatively affect quality of life and sleep.
Most nasal polyps are benign. However, with unilateral neoplasms, rapid growth, or atypical symptoms, the doctor may prescribe an additional examination to clarify the diagnosis.
No. Polyps are overgrowths of the mucous membrane of the nose or paranasal sinuses, while adenoids are enlarged lymphoid tissue of the nasopharyngeal tonsil. They have different origins and require different approaches to treatment.
Accurate diagnostics. The otolaryngology department is equipped with equipment from leading manufacturers of medical technology, which allows accurate assessment of the condition of ENT organs.
Experienced doctors. Consultations are conducted by specialists with many years of experience who work according to modern clinical recommendations.
Comfortable appointment. At Oxford Medical, an ENT specialist provides consultations in Kyiv and Irpin, which makes it possible to choose a convenient location and the optimal time for a visit.
Modern inpatient department. Surgical treatment is carried out in the modern surgical inpatient department of the private clinic Oxford Medical.
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