Nasal Polyps in India
What is Nasal Polyps ?
Nasal polyps are polypoidal masses arising mainly from the mucous membranes of the nose and paranasal sinuses.They are overgrowths of the mucosa that frequently accompany allergic rhinitis, and are freely movable and nontender.
Signs and symptoms
Nasal polyps are usually classified into antrochoanal polyps and ethmoidal polyps. Antrochoanal polyps arise from the maxillary sinuses and are the much less common; ethmoidal polyps arise from the ethmoidal sinuses.
Symptoms of polyps include nasal congestion, sinusitis, anosmia (loss of smell), and secondary infection leading to headache. They may be removed by surgery, but are found to recur in about 70% of cases. Sinus surgery requires a great amount of precision as this involves risk of damage to orbit matter.
Nasal polyps consist of hyperplastic oedematous connective tissue with some seromucous glands and inflammatory cells (mostly neutrophils and eosinophils) with respiratory epithelium, sometimes with metaplastic squamous epithelium on the surface.
Nasal polyps should be distinguished from nasal papillomas, which are benign epithelial tumors and have more serious consequences.
Treatment
Nasal polyps are most often treated with steroids or topical, but can also be treated with surgical methods.Before and after surgery, sinus rinses with sterile warm water mixed with a small amount of salts (sodium chloride and sodium bicarbonate) can be helpful to clear the sinuses.
The removal of nasal polyps via surgery lasts approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour. The surgery can be done under general or local anaesthesia, and the polyps are removed using endoscopic surgery. Recovery from this type of surgery is anywhere from 1 to 3 weeks.
Nasal polyps should be distinguished from nasal papillomas, which are benign epithelial tumors and have more serious consequences.