Corticosteroid treatment versus surgical treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyposis

Background and Aim The definition of chronic rhinosinusitis is inflammation of the nose and paranasal sinuses characterized by two or more symptoms like nasal obstruction, congestion of nasal mucosa, reduction or loss of smell, facial pain, and either endoscopic signs of polyps edema or mucosal obstruction primarily in middle meatus, maybe computed tomography changes showing mucosal changes within the ostiomeatal complex and sinuses. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of medical treatment in comparison with functional endoscopic sinus surgery as a treatment of allergic nasal polyposis. Patients and methods A prospective study was carried out at Al-Zahraa University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine for Girls, Al-Azhar University, which included 40 patients (30 males and10 females) divided into two groups, mean age of group A (36.9±10.2) and mean age of group B (39.8±9). Results There is no statistically significant difference between both groups as regards runny nose, nasal obstruction, postnasal drip, smell sensation, taste sensation, sneezing, fascial pain, or headache before intervention. There is a statistically significant difference between both groups after intervention (by medication or surgery) as regards runny nose (P=0.034), nasal obstruction was highly significant (P=0.001), and smell sensation was highly significant (P=0.005), while there was no significant difference between both groups as regards other symptoms like postnasal drip, fascial pain, headache, sneezing, and taste sensation (P>0.05). Conclusion We conclude from our data that medical treatment was cost-effective and time-saving. Many patients who received medical treatment responded well to the point of refusing any surgical procedure, functional endoscopic sinus surgery is essential when medical treatment was not sufficient in improving manifestations.