Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 6, 2026
Clinical Application of Intense Pulsed Light Therapy and Radio Frequency for Treatment of Ocular Surface Diseases
Published on: July 3, 2025
Radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy on nasal polyps: preliminary results
Yvonne Fischer1, Silke Gronau, Ajnacska Rozsasi
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ulm, Frauensteige 12, D-89075 Ulm, Germany. yvonne.fischer@medizin.uni-ulm.de
Background:
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of radiofrequency-induced thermotherapy (RFITT) in patients with nasal polyps.
Methods:
A retrospective analysis was performed of prospectively collected data from 17 consecutive patients (11 men and 6 women; mean age, 51.7 +/- 16.9 years) treated with RFITT from 2002 to 2003. The postoperative outcome was assessed using active anterior rhinomanometry, "sniffin' stick" test, and endoscopic nasal examination preoperatively and 4 weeks postoperatively. Subjective complaints were assessed with Likert scales.
Results:
Transnasal airflow increased by 40.3% 4 weeks postoperatively (p = 0.029). Endoscopic appearance of nasal polyps indicated a nonsignificant reduction of 37.1%. Subjective complaints such as impaired nasal ventilation (p = 0.014), nasal discharge (p = 0.0007), postnasal drip (p = 0.0002), and hyposmia (p = 0.048) improved significantly 4 weeks after surgery.
Conclusion:
RFITT is well tolerated as a day case procedure under local anesthesia and might be a procedure for treating recurrence of NP after sinus surgery. It remains unclear at this point whether RFITT for nasal polyps results in a permanent reduction.