Small polyps often do not cause discomfort and therefore usually remain undetected and thus untreated. Larger polyps cause discomfort and therefore need to be treated. Therapy may involve medication or surgery.
Drug treatment
Cortisone is often administered in the form of nasal sprays or systemically, i.e. internally. This can lead to a decrease in the growths in smaller polyps, but complete cure is rare. In some cases, antihistamines (anti-allergic drugs) can also reduce the symptoms. If the cause of the nasal polyps is an allergy, it is important to first determine this accurately by an allergy test (prick test) and then to treat it as well to prevent the polyps from forming again.
Surgical treatment
In most cases, surgery is the treatment of choice, for example, if breathing is massively restricted, the sinuses are inflamed, or a tumor is suspected in the case of unilateral polyps. The aim of the operation is to remove the growths and, under certain circumstances, to widen the narrowed access to the sinuses. To do this, the surgeon first inserts a metal loop into the nose under local anesthesia, places it around the polyp-like growths, and tightens it until the polyp is detached.
Alternatively, the polyp can be removed with the help of a laser. Advantages of laser removal include less bleeding, tissue sparing, and faster healing – however, if a tumor is suspected, traditional surgical removal may be appropriate, as this allows the growth to be removed whole and still be examined for malignant cells by a pathologist afterwards.
If the polyps are located in the sinuses or their connecting ducts, endoscopic sinus rehabilitation is also performed as part of a polyp removal procedure. The sinus excretory ducts are widened, so breathing is easier and the sinuses are better ventilated. This surgery is performed under general anesthesia.
Alternative medicine treatment
In some cases, treatment with acupuncture (such as laser acupuncture) can shrink the adenoids and reduce discomfort. In some sufferers, homeopathic therapy or bioresonance procedures also help improve subjective well-being.
Prevention of polyps
Intensive care of the nasal mucosa after surgery or successful drug treatment is particularly important. This includes inhalations as well as nasal douches with salt water, for example. The use of nasal sprays containing cortisone over a longer period of time (several months) is also part of regular aftercare. Sinusitis is treated with antibiotics as well as decongestant and expectorant medication.
If the cause of the polyps was an allergy, it is especially important to find out and avoid the allergy triggers. If this is not successful, it is very likely that the growths will form again. In general, the recurrence rate of polyp disease is unfortunately relatively high, with about a quarter of patients developing the disease again within a few years.