A review of nasal polyposis and surgical management

Abstract

Nasal polyps are common, affecting up to four percent of the population. Their etiology remains unclear, but they are known to have associations with allergy, asthma, infection ,cystic fibrosis, and aspirin sensitivity. Computerized tomography allows evaluation of the extent of the disease and is essential when surgical treatment is to be considered. There is good evidence for the use of corticosteroids (systemic and topical) both as primary treatment and as postoperative prophylaxis against recurrence. Surgical treatment has been refined significantly over the past twenty years with the advent of endoscopic sinus surgery. Symptomatic improvement is more in Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) compared to conventional procedures (including polypectomy, Caldwel-luc and intranasal ethmoidectomy). Overall complications following ESS are relatively very few polyp reccurrence are also less (8%) for ESS compared with14% for coventional surgery.

Keywords: Nasal polyposis, surgical procedures, FESS

DOI: 10.3329/bjo.v14i2.3285

Bangladesh J of Otorhinolaryngology 2008; 14(2) : 71-74