Further Outpatient Care

See the list below:

Patients with nasal polyposis can easily be monitored as outpatients, and they should be examined by an otolaryngologist.
- Patients with limited symptoms may be monitored once or twice a year.
- Patients with severe obstructive symptoms may need closer follow-up, especially if they are receiving high-dose oral corticosteroids or using nasal steroid sprays long term.
Consider surgical intervention for nasal polyps after appropriate medical therapy is unsuccessful and for patients with recurrent sinus infections that need treatment with multiple antibiotics.

Complications

See the list below:

Intranasal
- Recurrent sinusitis
- Chronic sinusitis
- Acquired nasal deformity
Orbital
- Proptosis
- Diplopia
Intracranial
- Meningitis
- Encephalitis

Prognosis

See the list below:

Medical therapy for nasal polyposis is usually reserved for patients who are not surgical candidates or who require temporization of symptom relief.
Rarely do the polyps resolve, but they occasionally shrink enough to provide symptomatic relief.

Patient Education

See the list below:

For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicineHealth's Ear, Nose, and Throat Center. Also, see eMedicineHealth's patient education article Sinus Infection.

Questions

Van Zele T, Gevaert P, Holtappels G, Beule A, Wormald PJ, Mayr S, et al. Oral steroids and doxycycline: two different approaches to treat nasal polyps. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2010 May. 125(5):1069-1076.e4. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Martinez-Devesa P, Patiar S. Oral steroids for nasal polyps. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Jul 6. CD005232. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kirtsreesakul V, Wongsritrang K, Ruttanaphol S. Clinical efficacy of a short course of systemic steroids in nasal polyposis. Rhinology. 2011 Dec. 49(5):525-32. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Tos M. The pathogenic theories on the formation of nasal polyps. Am J Rhinol. 1990. 4:51-6.
Bernstein JM, Gorfien J, Noble B. Role of allergy in nasal polyposis: a review. Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 1995 Dec. 113(6):724-32. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Rudmik L, Schlosser RJ, Smith TL, Soler ZM. Impact of topical nasal steroid therapy on symptoms of nasal polyposis: a meta-analysis. Laryngoscope. 2012 Jul. 122(7):1431-7. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Becker SS, Rasamny JK, Han JK, Patrie J, Gross CW. Steroid injection for sinonasal polyps: the University of Virginia experience. Am J Rhinol. 2007 Jan-Feb. 21(1):64-9. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Moss WJ, Kjos KB, Karnezis TT, et al. Intranasal steroid injections and blindness: Our personal experience and a review of the past 60 years. Laryngoscope. 2014 Nov 6. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Shen J, Welch K, Kern R. Mometasone furoate sinus implant - a new targeted approach to treating recurrent nasal polyp disease. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol. 2018 Dec. 11 (12):1163-70. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Kato A. Immunopathology of chronic rhinosinusitis. Allergol Int. 2015 Apr. 64 (2):121-30. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Bachert C, Mannent L, Naclerio RM, et al. Effect of Subcutaneous Dupilumab on Nasal Polyp Burden in Patients With Chronic Sinusitis and Nasal Polyposis: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2016 Feb 2. 315 (5):469-79. [QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Bachert C, Han JK, Desrosiers M, et al. Efficacy and safety of dupilumab in patients with severe chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (LIBERTY NP SINUS-24 and LIBERTY NP SINUS-52): results from two multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group phase 3 trials. Lancet. 2019 Sep 19. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Galletti C, Barbieri MA, Ciodaro F, et al. Effectiveness and Safety Profile of Dupilumab in Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyps: Real-Life Data in Tertiary Care. Pharmaceuticals (Basel). 2023 Apr 21. 16 (4):[QxMD MEDLINE Link]. [Full Text].
Armengot-Carceller M, Gomez-Gomez MJ, Garcia-Navalon C, et al. Effects of Omalizumab Treatment in Patients With Recalcitrant Nasal Polyposis and Mild Asthma: A Multicenter Retrospective Study. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2020 Nov 5. 1945892420972326. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Bikhazi NB. Contemporary management of nasal polyps. Otolaryngol Clin North Am. 2004 Apr. 37(2):327-37, vi. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Dagli M, Eryilmaz A, Besler T, Akmansu H, Acar A, Korkmaz H. Role of free radicals and antioxidants in nasal polyps. Laryngoscope. 2004 Jul. 114(7):1200-3. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].
Rinia AB, Kostamo K, Ebbens FA, van Drunen CM, Fokkens WJ. Nasal polyposis: a cellular-based approach to answering questions. Allergy. 2007 Apr. 62(4):348-58. [QxMD MEDLINE Link].

Media Gallery

Nasal polyposis, right nasal passage.
Nasal polyposis, right nasal passage.

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Author

Sanford M Archer, MD, FACS Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, Medical Director, UK Voice and Swallowing Clinic, Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center

Sanford M Archer, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngic Allergy, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Head and Neck Society, American Rhinologic Society, Kentucky Medical Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Specialty Editor Board

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy; Editor-in-Chief, Medscape Drug Reference

Disclosure: Received salary from Medscape for employment. for: Medscape.

Robert M Kellman, MD Professor and Chair, Department of Otolaryngology and Communication Sciences, State University of New York Upstate Medical University

Robert M Kellman, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Head and Neck Society, American Rhinologic Society, Triological Society, American Neurotology Society, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, Medical Society of the State of New York

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA Professor of Otolaryngology, Dentistry, and Engineering, University of Colorado School of Medicine

Arlen D Meyers, MD, MBA is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Head and Neck Society

Disclosure: Serve(d) as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for: Cerescan; Ryte; Neosoma; MI10<br/>Received income in an amount equal to or greater than $250 from: Neosoma; Cyberionix (CYBX)<br/>Received ownership interest from Cerescan for consulting for: Neosoma, MI10.

Additional Contributors

Eric J Moore, MD, FACS Residency Director, Associate Professor, Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine

Eric J Moore, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Head and Neck Society, American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association

Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.