Ear, Nose & Throat Diagnosis Nasal Polyps Guide Nasal Polyps Guide Overview Symptoms Causes Diagnosis Treatment Coping How Nasal Polyps Are Diagnosed By Elizabeth Yuko, PhD Elizabeth Yuko, PhD LinkedIn Twitter Elizabeth Yuko, PhD, is a bioethicist and journalist, as well as an adjunct professor of ethics at Dublin City University. She has written for publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, and more. Learn about our editorial process Updated on May 31, 2021 Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD Medically reviewed by Benjamin F. Asher, MD Facebook LinkedIn Benjamin F. Asher, MD, is a board-certified otolaryngologist. He has a private practice in New York City where he focuses on natural and integrative healing. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print Table of Contents View All Table of Contents What Are Nasal Polyps? Symptoms Common Causes Physical Examination Next in Nasal Polyps Guide How Nasal Polyps Are Treated Noncancerous growths inside the nasal cavity and/or sinuses, called nasal polyps, often don't have symptoms—and when they do, the symptoms are very similar to those associated with colds, allergies, and sinus infections. While it's not possible to self-diagnose nasal polyps, healthcare providers are able to perform a few different tests to help determine if a person has nasal polyps. Grace Cary / Getty Images What Are Nasal Polyps? Nasal polyps are soft, swollen, abnormal, sac-like growths that line the inside of a person's nose or sinuses. They are often teardrop-shaped, and grow together in groups on both sides of a person's nasal cavity. One-Sided Nasal Polyps One-sided nasal polyps typically trigger further investigation, as they may be malignant nasal or sinus tumors. Though nasal polyps themselves are not a form of cancer, it is possible for other growths to form in the nasal cavity that are cancerous—though they are not considered polyps. Frequently, nasal polyps grow where the sinuses open into the nasal cavity and can vary in size. While small polyps may not cause any problems—and may not be noticeable—larger polyps can block your sinuses or nasal airway, making it difficult to breathe. In general, nasal polyps are quite common, and anyone can develop them, though they tend to most frequently appear when a person is in their 30s and 40s. Symptoms of Nasal Polyps In some cases, people with nasal polyps don't experience any symptoms at all. For others, they may simply feel as though they have a normal (but never-ending) head cold or sinus infection. The symptoms of nasal polyps can include a combination of the following: Runny nose Stuffed up nose Sneezing Feeling like your nose is blocked Loss of smell Loss of taste Headache and pain if you also have a sinus infection Snoring Itching around the eyes Facial pain Pain in the upper teeth Postnasal drip Cough Common Causes of Nasal Polyps Because the exact causes of nasal polyps are not yet known, it can be helpful to look at other conditions and symptoms that people with the growths tend to have. For instance, if a person has an underlying inflammation of tissue, they may be more likely to develop nasal polyps. Frequently, the inflammation of the nose and sinus cavities are a result of chronic rhinosinusitis—which is a very common medical condition affecting approximately 12% of adults worldwide. And approximately 20% of people with chronic rhinosinusitis have nasal polyps. Similarly, people who have the following conditions may also develop nasal polyps: Asthma Aspirin sensitivity Chronic sinus infections Cystic fibrosis Hay fever (allergic rhinitis) Physical Examination There is no way to do a self-check for nasal polyps at home. Instead, if you are having difficulty breathing through your nose, experiencing a prolonged cold or sinus infection, or have lost your sense of taste or smell, it's a good idea to see your healthcare provider. The first thing a practitioner will do is look inside your nose, using one of the following instruments: Otoscope (which is also used to examine the inside of ears)Nasal speculumPosterior rhinoscopy mirror Self Diagnosis There is no way to self diagnosis nasal polyps at home. You need to see a healthcare provider. Nasal Endoscopy If further investigation is needed, the healthcare provider may order a nasal endoscopy—typically performed by an ear, nose, and throat doctor (otolaryngologist) in their office—to get a full look at the polyps and help determine how best to treat them. An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera and a light that, in this case, is inserted into the nose. The healthcare provider then guides the tube through a person's nasal and sinus passages, allowing them to see images of the area that can only be seen through the endoscope. Imaging In order to diagnose nasal polyps that are deeper in the sinus cavities or aren't clearly seen during the nasal endoscopy, your healthcare provider may order some type of imaging test to help get a clearer picture of the problem. These procedures may include: CT scan: X-rays pass through the nose and create images that are analyzed by a computerMRI: Uses a magnetic field to make an image of structures inside your body, like the nasal cavities and sinuses A Word From Verywell A nasal endoscopy may be uncomfortable, but it will help your healthcare provider determine if you have nasal polyps, and if so, how best to treat them. For example, they may come across polyps that are quite large and, once removed, should result in your ability to breathe better. 5 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Nasal polyps. MedlinePlus. Nasal polyps. Chainansamit S, Chit-Uea-Ophat C, Reechaipichitkul W, Piromchai P. The diagnostic value of traditional nasal examination tools in an endoscopic era. Ear Nose Throat J. Published online September 23, 2019. doi:10.1177/0145561319875711 Johns Hopkins Medicine. Nasal endoscopy. Cedars-Sinai. Nasal polyps. By Elizabeth Yuko, PhD Elizabeth Yuko, PhD, is a bioethicist and journalist, as well as an adjunct professor of ethics at Dublin City University. She has written for publications including The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Rolling Stone, and more. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit