Nasal polyp is an abnormal growth of tissue in the lining of the nose, which resembles small grapes or tears stuck inside the nose. Although some may develop at the beginning of the nose and be visible, most develop in the inner rags or sinuses. not to be observable, but it can lead to symptoms such as constant runny nose, nasal congestion or persistent headaches, for example.
While some polyps may not cause signs and may be identified by chance during a routine nasal exam, others cause several symptoms and may need to be removed by surgery.
- Thus.
- In case of suspicion of nasal polyp.
- It is advisable to consult an otolaryngologist to confirm the diagnosis and start treatment.
- To relieve symptoms.
One of the most characteristic symptoms of nasal polyp is the onset of chronic sinusitis that takes more than 12 weeks to disappear, however, other symptoms may include:
There are also several cases in which nasal polyps are very small and therefore do not cause any type of alteration, causing no symptoms, in these cases polyps are usually identified during routine examinations of the nose or airways.
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The otolaryngologist may suggest the existence of a nasal polyp only through the symptoms reported by the person, however, the best way to confirm the diagnosis is to pass tests, such as a nasal endoscopy or CT scan.
Before that, and if the person has chronic sinusitis, the doctor may first order an allergy test because it is easier to do and helps eliminate one of the most common causes. See how the allergy test is done.
Nasal polyps are always benign tissue growth, without cancer cells, so they cannot become cancerous; however, this does not mean that the person cannot develop cancer of the respiratory system, especially if they are a smoker.
Polyps are more common in people who have breathing problems that cause constant irritation of the nasal mucosa. For example, some causes that increase your risk of having a polyp include:
However, there are also several cases in which polyps appear without a history of alterations in the respiratory system, and may even be related to an inherited trend.
Treatment of nasal polyp is usually done to try to relieve symptoms caused by constant sinusitis, so your doctor may recommend the use of nasal spray corticosteroids, such as fluticasone or budesonide, for example, that should be applied 1 to 2 times. to reduce irritation of the lining of the nose. Learn more about treating sinusitis.
However, in cases where symptoms do not improve, even after a few weeks of treatment, the otolaryngologist may advise you to have surgery to remove the polyps.
Surgery to remove nasal polyps is usually performed under general or local anesthesia, with incisions in the skin and/or oral mucosa, or using an endoscope, which is a thin, flexible tube that is inserted through the opening of the nose to the site. polyp. Because the endoscope has a camera at the end, your doctor may look at the location and remove the polyp with a small cutting instrument at the end of the tube.
After surgery, your doctor often prescribes anti-inflammatory sprays and corticosteroids that need to be applied to prevent the polyp from reproducing, as surgery is necessary. In addition, a nasal wash with saline solution may also be recommended to stimulate healing.