People with nasal polyps often complain about having a cold that has lasted for months or years.

Symptoms include:

• Mouth breathing
• Nose feeling blocked (nasal obstruction)
• Reduced or complete loss of sense of smell (not common with sinus infection)
• Runny nose

Headaches or pain are NOT common unless there is also a sinus infection.

Examining the nose shows a grayish grape-like mass in the nasal cavity.

A CT scan of the sinuses will show opaque (cloudy) spots where the polyps are.

Images

Nasal polyps

Throat anatomy

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Nasal polyps Overview

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Nasal polyps Treatment

Review Date: 10/09/2009
Reviewed By: Seth Schwartz, MD, MPH, Otolaryngologist, Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)