Nasal polyps are not the same as cancer, and most polyps are painless. They are soft, non-cancerous growths that form in the lining of the nose or sinuses after chronic inflammation. They often grow on both sides of the nasal cavity and may look like small grapes or teardrops when seen through a nasal endoscope.
Nasal polyps usually occur with chronic rhinosinusitis, which means inflammation of the nose and sinuses lasting 12 weeks or longer. The exact cause is not always clear. Nasal polyps are more common in those with asthma, allergic rhinitis, recurrent sinus infections, cystic fibrosis, aspirin or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug sensitivity, and some immune conditions. A family tendency may also play a role.
Some patients develop nasal polyps extensively throughout the nasal cavity, a condition called nasal polyposis. Risk factors for developing nasal polyps include chronic inflammation from hay fever and exposure to airborne allergens. If left untreated, nasal polyps may enlarge, leading to frequent sinus infections and chronic sinusitis.
Nasal polyp types include inflammatory polyps, which are often associated with chronic sinus inflammation, and antrochoanal polyps, which usually arise from the maxillary sinus and extend towards the back of the nasal cavity. Knowing the type of polyp helps guide the treatment.
Common symptoms of nasal polyps may include a stuffy nose, nasal congestion, nasal obstruction, and difficulty breathing through the nasal passages. Nasal polyp symptoms usually develop slowly and may feel like a blocked nose that does not fully clear.
Nasal polyps may also cause painless growths that block the nasal cavity and make the nose feel stuffy. A runny nose and postnasal drip pattern are frequently reported.
Barrie Tan ENT Head & Neck Surgery provides comprehensive care for nasal polyps.
If you believe you or a loved one has a nasal polyp, contact us today so that we can start working on a plan towards better breathing.
You should see an ear, nose and throat (ENT) specialist if nasal blockage, loss of smell, or your sinus symptoms last more than 10 days, keep recurring, or affect your sleep and daily life. A cold usually improves within a short time. Nasal polyps and chronic sinusitis tend to persist or return despite simple remedies.
Urgent medical attention is needed if your symptoms worsen quickly, or if there is swelling around the eyes, double vision, a severe worsening headache, neck stiffness, or swelling over the forehead. A one-sided nasal growth, recurrent bleeding, unexplained facial pain, or a persistently blocked nostril also requires careful assessment, because not every growth inside the nose is a polyp.
Diagnosis of nasal polyps is made by reviewing the medical history and risk factors, assessing symptoms, examining the nose, and using nasal endoscopy to visualise deeper within the nasal passages. During this examination, a slim nasal endoscope is gently passed into the nose. This allows the ENT specialist to look for polyps, swelling, pus, allergy changes, a deviated septum, enlarged turbinates, or other causes of obstruction.
Diagnosing nasal polyps usually involves reviewing your symptoms, examining the nose and using a nasoendoscopy to confirm the presence of polyps and assess the extent of disease in the nasal cavity. A computerised tomography (CT) scan may be recommended when the symptoms are significant, when surgery is being considered, or when the extent of sinus disease needs to be mapped. CT imaging helps show where polyps and sinus inflammation are located, identifies other causes of blockage and supports the treatment planning.
Allergy testing, asthma assessment or blood tests may be useful for selected patients.
A nasal polyp biopsy is not needed for every typical polyp, but it may be advised if the growth is unilateral, unusual in appearance, bleeding, firm, or not behaving like an ordinary inflammatory process.
Nasal polyp treatment often starts with medication to reduce the inflammation, to improve breathing and to help restore sinus drainage. Medications to shrink nasal polyps include nasal sprays, steroid nasal sprays and oral corticosteroids, which can help relieve symptoms and improve your quality of life. Nasal polyps treated with consistent medication tend to shrink.
Steroid nasal sprays are commonly used because they act directly on the nasal lining. Saline rinses can help clear mucus, allergens and crusting, especially in Singapore’s humid climate, where allergy and sinus symptoms may fluctuate throughout the year.
A short course of oral steroids may be considered for larger polyps or severe blockage, but this is usually used carefully because tablets can have side effects. Antihistamines or other allergy treatments may help when allergic rhinitis is part of the problem. Antibiotics are used only when there is evidence of bacterial infection. For selected patients with severe, recurrent disease, biologic injections such as monoclonal antibodies may be considered to target specific inflammatory pathways and reduce the inflammatory load.
Our ENT specialist may suggest surgery when nasal polyps do not respond adequately to medication. Medication may also be used after surgery to prevent polyp recurrence. Good long-term control is important. Even when the symptoms improve, stopping treatment too early may allow the inflammation and polyps to return.
Surgery to remove nasal polyps and clear the nasal passages may be recommended when medication does not control your symptoms, when the polyps are large, or when blocked sinuses lead to recurrent infections. The usual approach is functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS).
FESS is performed through the nostrils using a small camera and fine instruments. This means there are no visible facial cuts. The surgeon removes nasal polyps and clears the nasal passages while also addressing polyps or inflamed tissue in deeper sinus areas.
Nasal polyp removal also opens blocked sinus pathways, clears diseased tissue, and improves access for saline rinses and steroid sprays after the operation. This helps with long-term control and may reduce the chance of polyp recurrence.
In selected cases, nasal polyp removal may be combined with correction of other nasal problems, such as a deviated septum or enlarged turbinates, if these contribute to the blockage.
Risks and Recovery
Nasal polyp removal recovery is usually manageable, but healing takes time and follow-up care matters. After endoscopic sinus surgery, patients may experience nasal blockage, mild bleeding, crusting, thick discharge, and temporary loss of smell. Saline rinses and prescribed sprays help the nasal lining heal.
Most patients return to light activity within several days, although strenuous exercise, heavy lifting and nose blowing are usually avoided at first. The ENT specialist will review your nose after surgery and may gently clean crusting to keep the sinus openings clear.
All surgery carries risks. These may include bleeding, infection, scarring, persistent blockage, polyp recurrence, or reduced improvement in smell. In rare cases, injury to the nearby eye or skull base structures may occur because the sinuses sit close to these areas. Careful imaging, surgical planning and experience help reduce these risks.
Barrie Tan ENT Head & Neck Surgery provides careful assessment and personalised treatment for nasal polyps in a way Singapore patients can understand. At Gleneagles Hospital, Dr Barrie Tan evaluates the nose and sinuses, polyp characteristics, medical history, allergy patterns, asthma history, and previous treatment response before recommending a plan.
For some patients, the right treatment is regular medication and monitoring. For others, surgery may offer better breathing, fewer infections and improved delivery of long-term treatment. Dr Tan explains the findings clearly, discusses the benefits and limits of each option, and helps patients reduce the risk of recurrence after treatment.
If nasal blockage, loss of smell, or recurrent sinus infections are affecting your comfort, sleep, or daily functioning, contact Barrie Tan ENT to arrange a consultation.
MBBS, MRCS (Edinburgh), MMed (Otorhinolaryngology), FAMS
Dr Barrie Tan is an ENT specialist at Gleneagles Hospital, Singapore, with more than 20 years of clinical and surgical experience. He previously served as Head of ENT and Director of the Centre for Hearing and Ear Implants at Singapore General Hospital. The information provided is not intended as medical advice. More about our medical experts.
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