Nasal Polyps

Reviewed 06/2020

BASICS

Chronic benign inflammatory lesion of nasal mucosa
Arise from ethmoidal cells but can arise from maxillary sinus mucosa although less common

DESCRIPTION

Appearance of edematous pedunculated mass i...

DIAGNOSIS

Made on the basis of the presence of sinonasal symptoms for more than 3 months and the visualization of polyps in the nasal cavity

HISTORY

Symptoms

Rhinorrhea
Nasal congestion
Postnasal drainag...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

Goal is to reduce the size or eliminate nasal polyps because they can obstruct the nasal cavity and impair sense of smell, restrict breathing ability through nose, and obstru...

ONGOING CARE

Recurrence up to ~40% (1)
Use of intranasal corticosteroids after polyp removal surgery has shown effectiveness against recurrence.
Recurrence twice as likely in those with asthma

PROGNOSIS

P...

REFERENCES

Hopkins C. Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. N Engl J Med. 2019;381:55–63.

Poetker DM, Jakubowski LA, Lal D, et al. Oral corticosteroids in the management of adult chronic rh...

ADDITIONAL READING

Håkansson K, Thomsen SF, Konge L, et al. A comparative and descriptive study of asthma in chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2014;28(5):383–387.

CODES

ICD10

J33.9 Nasal polyp, unspecified
J33.0 Polyp of nasal cavity
J33.8 Other polyp of sinus
J33.1 Polypoid sinus degeneration

ICD9

471.9 Unspecified nasal polyp
471.0 Polyp of nasal cavity
471.8 Other p...

CLINICAL PEARLS

Intranasal corticosteroid use has been demonstrated to reduce polyp size and recurrence as well as to improve nasal congestion.
Short-course oral corticosteroids and/or doxycycline may ...

Subscribe to Access Full Content

START 10-DAY FREE TRIAL

Subscribe Now

Forgot password?

Enter an Access Code

GET CME/CE