Full, Limited Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Beneficial in Rhinosinusitis With Nasal Polyps

TUESDAY, Aug. 11, 2026 (HealthDay News) — For patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP), full and limited functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) are both effective for improving health-related quality of life within 24 months, according to a study published online July 30 in Allergy.

Paula Virkkula, Ph.D., from Helsinki University Hospital, and colleagues compared full and limited FESS in patients with CRSwNP in a randomized controlled trial performed in two university hospitals. Ninety-seven patients with a total Sino-nasal-outcome-test (SNOT-22) score ≥30, bilateral nasal polyp score ≥4, modified Lund-Mackay radiological score ≥14, and previous surgery or systemic medication for CRSwNP were recruited. The per-protocol analysis included 47 patients in the full FESS group and 47 in the limited FESS group.

The researchers found that at 12 months, the mean SNOT-22 score was 22.3 and 31.5 in the full and limited FESS groups, respectively (mean difference, −9.2). The mean SNOT-22 scores were 25.3 and 27.8, respectively, at 24 months (mean difference, −2.5). The between-group difference in change of total SNOT-22 score was not significant and did not exceed the minimal clinically important difference. Between-group differences in improvement were seen in several secondary outcome measures, including olfaction and polyp load.

“Full FESS, while needing general anesthesia, may show more effect on improvement of anosmia and polyp load, especially in the first postoperative year,” the authors write. “As such, this study can help in shared decision-making between patients and ear, nose, and throat surgeons regarding the surgical management of CRSwNP.”

Several authors disclosed ties to the biopharmaceutical industry.

Abstract/Full Text