Are Nasal Polyps Deadly ?
No significant mortality is associated with nasal polyposis. Morbidity is usually associated with altered quality of life, nasal obstruction, anosmia, chronic sinusitis, headaches, snoring, and postnasal drainage. In certain situations, nasal polyps can alter the craniofacial skeleton because unremoved polyps can extend intracranially and into the orbital vaults. Polyposis recurrence is common following treatment with medical or surgical therapy if multiple benign polyps are present (see Treatment, Surgical Care). Single large polyps (eg, antral-choanal polyps) are less likely to recur. Endoscopic sinus surgery appears to improve both olfaction and quality of life in chronic rhinosinusitis patients with nasal polyps. In a study of 58 pediatric patients (< 18 years) with antrochoanal polyps who were treated with functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS), Pagella et al reported a recurrence rate of 20.5%. The literature contains sparse data comparing treatments. Galluzzi et al perfor...