Chapter 6: Nasal polyps

Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2013 May-Jun:27 Suppl 1:S20-5. doi: 10.2500/ajra.2013.27.3926.

Abstract

Nasal polyps occur in 1-4% of the population, usually occurring in the setting of an underlying local or systemic disease. The most common associated condition is chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). A high prevalence of nasal polyps is also seen in allergic fungal rhinosinusitis, aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease, Churg-Strauss syndrome, and cystic fibrosis. In the setting of CRS, nasal polyps are not likely to be cured by either medical or surgical therapy; however, control is generally attainable. The best medical evidence supports the use of intranasal corticosteroids for maintenance therapy and short courses of oral corticosteroids for exacerbations. The evidence for short- and long-term antibiotics is much less robust. For patients with symptomatic nasal polyposis nonresponsive to medical therapies, functional endoscopic sinus surgery provides an adjunctive therapeutic option.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones / therapeutic use*
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Chronic Disease
  • Comorbidity
  • Endoscopy
  • Humans
  • Nasal Polyps / epidemiology*
  • Nasal Polyps / therapy*
  • Paranasal Sinuses / pathology
  • Paranasal Sinuses / surgery
  • Prevalence
  • Rhinitis / epidemiology*
  • Risk Factors
  • Sinusitis / epidemiology*

Substances

  • Adrenal Cortex Hormones
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents