Introduction:
Choanal polyps are benign tumors of the nasal cavity and the nasopharynx, originating
mostly from the mucosa of the maxillary sinus. The differential diagnoses include
benign and malignant tumors such as juvenile angiofibroma, mucoceles, inverted papilloma
and carcinoma.
Methods:
This retrospective study includes a total of 49 patients that were diagnosed with
choanal polyps between 2008 and 2018 at our department of otorhinolaryngology. We
analyzed the average patient's age, their cause of presentation, the polyps' origin
and the imaging techniques that were used for diagnosis prior to hospital presentation.
Results:
The patient population consisted of 49 patients (15 female and 34 male patients).
The mean age at time of diagnosis was 29,1 years. Except for one patient, all patients
presented with unilateral nasal obstruction. On 86% of patients (42/49) had CT scan
imaging prior to their presentation at our hospital, 12% (6/49) magnetic resonance
imaging. The mean age of the patients that underwent MRI was 11,1 years. By intraoperative
diagnosis, 94% (46/49) of choanal polyps originated from the maxillary sinus. In 98%
(48/49) there was an unilateral presentation. 94% (46/49) of the patients underwent
their initial surgery at our department, for one of these patients (2%, 1/46) revision
surgery was performed due to relapsing nasal polyps.
Conclusions:
Nasal endoscopy is the standard method of diagnosis for patients with unilateral nasal
obstruction in order to identify choanal polyps. For differential diagnosis and preoperative
planning, additional imaging is advised. In our hands, the endoscopic surgical resection
represents the standard of care resulting in an immediate relief of presenting symptoms
and low recurrence rates.
