Your doctor mentions nasal polyposis: what does the ENT examination look for?

Nasal polyposis involves chronic inflammation of the lining of the nose and sinuses. A blocked nose and reduced or lost sense of smell are among the features described. Ask what your doctor means by this term in your particular case.

A blocked nose or altered sense of smell can also have another cause. For example, Ameli's page on a deviated nasal septum describes these symptoms. Symptoms alone do not establish that you have polyposis; the medical examination looks for their explanation.

In the September 2020 HAS assessment, the diagnosis of polyposis relies in part on polyps visible in both nasal cavities during endoscopy. Ask the ENT specialist what they observed and which findings support the diagnosis.

Nasal endoscopy lets the specialist look inside the nose using an instrument with a camera and light. The examination provides direct observations. Ask for the difference between the symptom you experience and the specialist's findings inside the nose to be explained.

To prepare for the discussion, describe how long your nose has been blocked, whether one or both sides are affected and how your sense of smell has changed. This information supports the medical history. Keep the report so that the findings are available during follow-up.

The HAS information cited here comes from a 2020 assessment and concerns the description and diagnosis of the condition. To understand the current plan, ask your doctor what has been confirmed, what still needs investigation and which follow-up is proposed for you.