PREVENTION OF RECURRENCE OF NASAL POLYPS

Identify the underlying cause of polyps and treat it accordingly.

COMPLICATIONS OF NASAL POLYPS.

1. Nasal obstruction

2. Insomnia

3. Sinusitis

4. Respiratory tract infections

5. Broadening of nose and increased intercanthal distance.

6. Headache

7. Facial pain.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER IN A CASE OF NASAL POLYPS.

If a polypus is red and fleshy, friable and has granular surface, especially in older patients, think of malignancy.
Simple nasal polyp may masquerade a malignancy underneath .Hence all polypi should be subjected to histology.
A simple polyp in a child may be glioma, an encephalocele or a meningoenccephalocele. It should always be aspirated and fluid examined for CSF.
Multiple nasal poltpi in children may be associated with mucovisidosis.
Epistaxis and orbital symptoms associated with a polyp should always arouse the suspicion of malignancy.

DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS BETWEEN MUCOUS AND ANTROCOANAL POLYPI

S.No	FEATURES	MUCOUS POLYP	ANTROCOANAL POLYP
1	Basis	Usually allergic	Usually infective
2	Origin	Ethmoid sinuses and middle meatus	Maxillary sinus
3.	Age	Usually adult	Usually young.
4.	Side	Usually bilateral	Usually unilateral
5.	Number	Usually multiple	Usually single
6.	Surface epithelium	Ciliated columnar	Stratified squamous
7.	Examination	Easily seen on anterior rhinoscopy	Easily seen on posterior rhinoscopy