Can nasal polyps go away on their own?

I have had a stuffy nose and headaches for two months now. A CT scan showed nasal polyps. Will this disease go away on its own? How should I treat it? (Quoc Khanh, Ho Chi Minh City)

Reply:

Nasal polyps are benign tumors in the nasal cavity, accounting for about 1-4% of the population and the rate increases with age.

Polyps originate from the degenerative inflammation of the nasal mucosa, often appearing in patients with allergic rhinitis, acute and chronic infections, cystic fibrosis... These diseases cause the nasal mucosa to swell, become inflamed, and become damaged over time, leading to degeneration and polyp formation. About 30% of patients with nasal polyps test positive for allergens (pollen, dust, animal hair...).

Polyps can form in the structures of the nose and sinuses, most commonly in the sinuses that drain into the nasal cavity, the upper, middle, and lower turbinates. The disease increases secretions and congestion, causing nasal congestion, facial pain, and decreased or lost smell. The symptoms are similar to sinusitis or flu, so it is difficult to recognize. However, flu symptoms usually go away after 1-2 weeks, while polyp symptoms last longer.

A routine nasal endoscopy can detect nasal polyps. However, if the nasal polyps are located deep in the sinuses, or the doctor suspects that the polyps are large and spread out on both sides, the patient may be ordered a CT scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to determine the extent and plan treatment when necessary. These methods also help the doctor distinguish them from other tumor-like lesions in the nasal sinus area.

Nasal polyps do not go away on their own without treatment. Polyps can grow in size over time and cause health complications.

If you have symptoms of nasal congestion and loss of smell for a long time, you should see an ENT specialist and follow the doctor's treatment instructions. Treatment methods depend on the level of nasal polyps and health status. Patients are often treated with internal medicine with medication, if not responding, surgery is required.

Medications such as corticosteroid sprays or oral, anti-allergy drugs... help reduce sinus symptoms and shrink small polyps. In cases of large polyps, polyps that cause airway obstruction, sinusitis, and unilateral polyps that can obscure benign or malignant tumors, surgery is often required.

Simple nasal polypectomy is usually performed using a microdebrider or, most commonly, endoscopic surgery. Endoscopic polypectomy not only removes polyps but also widens the blocked sinus openings.

Endoscopes and endoscopic instruments allow the surgeon to view the sinuses with a magnifying camera and perform operations in hard-to-reach areas. After surgery, the patient has improved sinus circulation, no external scars, and is treated with anti-inflammatory nasal sprays, anti-allergy medications, and daily nasal irrigation with saline.

To prevent the disease, you should pay attention to humidifying the air in your home, managing seasonal allergies, cleaning your house, avoiding smoke, dust, cold, avoiding stimulants such as alcohol, beer, and cigarettes. Visit an ENT doctor for a regular sinus check-up every year to prevent polyps from recurring.

MSc.BSCKII Tran Thi Thuy Hang
Head of ENT Department, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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