[Nasal polyposis--of interest to several specialties. Improved diagnosis and new therapeutic possibilities]

Nasal polyposis, a disease seen mainly in humans and dominated in most cases by an eosinophilic inflammation of unknown etiology, has been an enigma for a few thousand years. Polyps are, however, overrepresented in patients with general airway inflammation as seen in asthma and idiopathic rhinitis, and in patients with infective nasal disease of chronic origin as seen in cystic fibrosis, immune deficiencies and dental sinusitis. Due to the eosinophilic nature of the inflammation, polyps are on the whole sensitive to local steroid treatment with spray or drops. Surgery is indicated when the polyps are solitary or when medical treatment fails.