Nasal polyps are small growths that develop on the membranous lining of the sinuses or nasal passages. As long as polyps remain small, they cause no symptoms. If they grow large enough, however, nasal polyps can lead to recurrent facial pain and headaches, blocked nostrils or sinuses, recurrent sinus infections, loss of sense of smell and breathing difficulties. The most common nasal polyps treatment options are medication and surgery.
Nasal polyps develop as the result of chronic inflammation of the mucus membranes in the sinuses or nasal passages. Inflammation that lasts three months or longer is considered to be chronic inflammation and is more likely to cause nasal polyps. The reason chronic inflammation causes nasal polyps is unknown, but the cause is thought to be linked to the immune system’s response to the inflammation.
The first option for nasal polyps treatment usually is steroid medication to reduce the inflammation that causes polyps to grow. Corticosteroids such as fluticasone, budesonide and triamcinolone are common medications used. These are prescribed in the form of a nasal spray. Over time, this treatment can shrink nasal polyps and sometimes even eliminate them.
If topical steroid preparations are ineffective, other corticosteroids might be prescribed. This type of nasal polyps treatment typically takes the form of oral prednisone or another corticosteroid in addition to the use of a topical nasal spray. The side effects of long-term oral steroid use can be harmful, so this medication is taken for only a short time.
Other medications might be prescribed in addition to topical or oral steroids. These are used to help alleviate inflammation of the nasal passages or sinuses, rather than to treat the polyps. Medications that might be prescribed include antibiotics to treat bacterial infections or antihistamines to reduce allergic symptoms.
Medication-based nasal polyps treatment does not work for all people. Especially in cases where there are many large polyps, even oral corticosteroids might not be sufficient to shrink or eliminate the growths. In these situations, surgery might be performed to remove the largest polyps. The two most common surgical treatments are polypectomy and endoscopic sinus surgery.
A polypectomy is a simple procedure in which isolated or small polyps are removed. This is a minimally invasive procedure, and it is performed on an outpatient basis. The second surgical option for nasal polyps treatment, endoscopic sinus surgery, is an outpatient procedure in which multiple polyps and other obstructions can be removed from the nasal passages or sinuses. After surgery, patients generally are given corticosteroid nasal spray to reduce post-surgery inflammation and to prevent the development of further polyps.
