Review: Assessment and Staging of Nasal Polyposis: Introduction

Abstract

This paper deals only with “simple” nasal polyposis which is almost always found in both cavities of the nose. A computer-based questionnaire will be described. Objective methods are described, i.e. rhinostereometry, acoustic rhinometry, rhinomanometry, and nasal peak flow, and their value in estimating changes of the size of nasal polyps discussed. To assess means, according to dictionaries, to estimate the value of something as a basis for taxation. The assessment of nasal polyposis may thus include not only aspects such as localization, size or volume, shape, colour, histologic appearance etc., but also aspects such as symptoms and effects of treatments. This review will focus on questionnaires, nasal patency and nasal airflow methods, and on staging, and omit assessment of symptoms and treatment, and furthermore of techniques for nasal lavages or other ways to collect secretion and the evaluation of mediators, markers and cells, the latter having been thoroughly described in a recent review in Acta Oto-Laryngologica (1).