The prevalence of clinical presentations and pathological characteristics of antrochoanal polyp

Antrochoanal polyps (ACPs) originating from the maxillary sinus, are considered as benign inflammatory lesions. In fact, these polyps are the hypertrophy of the mucous membrane of the maxillary sinus, which for unknown reasons grow through the maxillary sinus ostium towards the other portions of the nasal cavity and the choana, such a way that they may grow all the way to the nasopharynx and even oropharynx. ACP is usually unilateral however, the bilateral forms have been observed in some instances. Its most frequent clinical manifestations are nasal obstruction and rhinorrhea, whereas in many cases some other presentations such as epistaxis, dyspnea, and dysphagia, and weight loss have been also noticed. The aim of this study was to investigate the relative prevalence of clinical manifestations and pathological characteristics in 87 patients with ACPs during a period of 15 years in this hospital.

It was a descriptive cross-sectional study, accomplished retrospectively, and based on existing data in the records of the patients admitted in Imam Khomeini Hospital of Ahvaz. In this study, the patients above 16 years old have been considered as adults. Each patient's data were collected using a questionnaire. Data analysis was performed by the statistical SPSS software (descriptive statistics and Chi-square test).

87 patients were registered with the diagnosis of ACP during 1999 and 2014. Out of these patients 60% were females and 40% were males. Predominant clinical manifestation was nasal obstruction with an incidence of 39%; and the least frequent manifestation was weight loss with an incidence of 0%. Moreover, the left nasal cavity was more involved with the incidence of 55%. Among the existing surgical techniques. Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery (FESS), Caldwell- Luc procedure, and combined approach were the most common applied techniques,with frequencies of 64%, 24% and 12%, respectively. Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.03 ± 0.2, Odd ratio = 0.26, and p = 0.21.

Nasal obstruction was the predominant clinical symptom of ACP. The left nasal cavity was more involved than the right-side. FESS was the commonest employed surgical procedure; and the inflammatory pattern has been the most pathological presentation.