Treatment of Sinus/Nasal Polyps

Sinus or nasal polyps are benign growths arising from the specialized lining or membrane in the nose and sinuses. They are characterized by inflammation and can occur in the setting of asthma, allergy or infection. Fortunately, sinonasal polyps are usually benign. Small polyps may not cause any symptoms, however, when they become larger they may block the flow of air through the nose and be associated with a loss of the sense of smell. The inflammation associated with the polyps can also cause sneezing or runny nose symptoms. Medical treatment is recommended initially and surgery is reserved for cases that do not respond well to medicine. In some cases, medical or surgical treatment is quite effective. However, in other cases, sinonasal polyps can recur even with comprehensive treatment, necessitating long-term management of the underlying inflammation and multispecialty care.