Sensitivity of a new grading system for studying nasal polyps with the potential to detect early changes in polyp size after treatment with a topical corticosteroid (budesonide)

Abstract

We have previously compared different scoring systems for endoscopic staging of nasal polyps. Of the five methods evaluated, we found that two were better than the others with regard to reproducibility and agreement between physicians. One method was lateral imaging, developed by the authors, and the other was a scoring system developed by Lildholdt et al. The main objective of the present study was to compare the sensitivity of these two methods. Another aim was to study the effect on nasal polyposis of topical nasal corticosteroids over a 2-week period. Patients with bilateral nasal polyposis (n = 100) were randomized to a 2-week treatment with a topical corticosteroid (budesonide aqueous nasal spray: 128 microg b.i.d.) or placebo in a double-blind manner. Nasal symptoms were scored before treatment and after 3, 7 and 14 days of treatment, and the patients underwent nasal endoscopy at clinical visits. Patients treated with active substance had an improvement in their symptoms, an effect already detectable after 3 days of treatment, compared with those who received placebo. In addition, a statistically significant decrease in polyp size could be registered after 14 days using lateral imaging but not with the other scoring system. In conclusion, lateral imaging was more sensitive and could detect effects earlier than the other scoring system and can be recommended for the endoscopic staging of nasal polyps in clinical studies.