[Medical treatment of paranasal sinus polyposis: a prospective study in 181 patients]

Treatment of naso-sinus polyposis has been the subject of much controversy. The large number of reports in the literature suggest that role of surgical treatment is on the uprise. There is however general agreement that medical treatment is fundamental although an insufficient number of studies have evaluated its efficacy. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate results 6 months, 12 months and 2 years after medical treatment of polyposis in 181 patients. Despite a well-coduced information protocol, nearly 19% of the patients were lost to follow-up. Less than 32% of the patients have been operated. Patients treated medically were given a standard regimen according to a protocol combining short-term oral corticosteroids (prednisolone) and steroid nasal spray (beclometasone). Treatment was successful in 68% of the patients given medical treatment alone. Mean symptom intensity declined by 35 to 80% at 6 months then remained unchanged to the end of the study (2 years follow-up). Mean doses of prednisolone and beclomethasone were evaluated. Doses could be tapered off progressively allowing satisfactory nasal comfort. Medical treatment should be the first line therapy for nasal polyposis. Surgery should not be proposed until corticosteroid therapy has been found to be unsuccessful over a mean 6 months of a well-conducted treatment and good patient compliance.