Sinus & Nasal
Nasal Polyps
Soft, painless growths in the nose and sinuses that block breathing, dull your sense of smell and keep sinusitis coming back.
Nasal polyps are benign, grape-like swellings of chronically inflamed sinus lining. Small ones may cause nothing; larger ones block the nose, mute smell and taste, drive drainage and snoring, and trap infections. They are strongly linked with chronic sinusitis, asthma and aspirin sensitivity. Dr. Bortniker diagnoses polyps directly with nasal endoscopy and maps their extent with CT imaging when treatment is planned.
Signs of Nasal Polyps
- Persistent nasal blockage
- Loss of smell or taste
- Constant drainage
- Sinusitis that keeps returning
Talk to a specialist
Endoscopic evaluation for polyps and blocked breathing — Somerville and Warren offices.
Treatment Options
Steroid nasal sprays and short steroid courses shrink many polyps and are always the first step. When polyps persist or regrow, endoscopic sinus surgery removes them and opens the sinuses — improving breathing and often restoring smell. Because polyps reflect ongoing inflammation, maintenance therapy after treatment keeps them from returning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do polyps come back after surgery?
They can, because the inflammatory tendency remains — which is why surgery is paired with ongoing medical therapy. With that combination, most patients keep breathing well long-term.
Are nasal polyps cancerous?
True nasal polyps are benign. One-sided “polyps,” growths with bleeding, or unusual appearance are examined more closely — another reason diagnosis belongs with an ENT.