Importance of histopathology in diagnosis of unilateral nasal polyps

Nasal polyps are one of the most frequent clinical entities encountered by otolaryngologists. However, nasal polyps should be regarded as “signs” and not “diagnosis”, unless subject to histopathology-especially when the case is of unilateral nasal polyps, as histopathological evaluation is mandatory to reach a confirmed diagnosis. This study was thus aimed to establish the importance of histopathology in diagnosis of unilateral nasal polyps (as many otolaryngologists still do not agree with the need to do so). A prospective study done in the Dept of Otolaryngology, Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from January’2012 to June’2013 on 69 patients clinically diagnosed as unilateral nasal polyps and surgically treated with subsequent histopathological evaluation. It was found that histopathology was very important and conclusive in the diagnosis of nasal polyps.