Radiological changes and complications associated with nasal polyposis

Nasal polyps are pedunculated portion of oedematous mucosa of the nose or paranasal sinuses. Simple mucous or benign nasal polyps are an early recognizable clinical entity.

A 5-year (1998--2002) study of 63 nasal polyposis patients seen at the department of Otorhinolaryngology of University College Hospital Ibadan, Nigeria with radiological changes and complications was done.

Out of these 63 patients, 55 (87 %) had associated radiological changes of which 34 (62 %) were males and 21(38%) females with M:F of 1.6:1 and with an average age of 34 years. The duration of symptoms ranged from 2 months-14 years. The radiological changes were mainly seen in the maxillary sinus (40:33%), nasal cavity (37:30%) and ethmoidal air cells (21:17%), Sinus opacifications (90-100%) constituted the most common features seen followed by nasal cavity loss of radio-translucency (97 %). 50(79 %) had complications with sinusitis (98 %) being the most common complication seen.

The nasal polyposis has been found in this study to cause the radiological changes mainly in the maxillary sinus. The plain radiographs of the paranasal sinuses demonstrated by at least the occipito-frontal, occipito-mental and lateral views would show the extent of the disease in the nose and paranasal sinuses to certain good extent.