DEAR DR. GOTT: In the late 1970s to early 1980s, I had symptoms of nasal polyps. I had to have them removed three times over a period of eight years. After the third removal, the doctor sent out a biopsy.

The growth was determined to be an inverting papilloma. My doctor then sent me to get an X-ray, and it was found that there was a tumor the size of a golf ball in my left maxillary sinus cavity. I was told that the "polyps" were its roots that were being sent out through my nasal cavity. They were growing back every time they were chopped off. I had to have facial surgery in 1986 to remove the tumor.

I have been fine ever since. I know of three other people at my workplace who had similar ailments. They all had surgery, but they died as results of their tumors, so please let other people with recurring polyps know about this condition.

DEAR READER: Most nasal polyps are benign growths that cause few, if any, symptoms. Larger polyps can block the sinuses, causing breathing difficulties, frequent sinus infections, allergy-like symptoms and a loss of smell. They are most common in allergy sufferers, asthmatics or other people who experience frequent or chronic nasal/sinus problems. They are not cancerous and are rarely the result of nasal tumors.

Inverting papillomas (IPs) are the most common form of a rare set of nasal tumors known as sinonasal papillomas (SPs). Of all primary nasal tumors, SPs comprise up to only four percent of all cases. Approximately 70 percent of SPs are classified as IPs, which means that approximately one out of every 100,000 people has the condition, making it very rare.

At this time, surgery is the primary treatment option for these types of tumors. Radiation therapy is considered only for those with advanced and aggressive tumors or for those at too great a risk for surgery.

Depending on the type of surgical removal performed, up to 78 percent of sufferers may have experienced recurrence of the lesions. Some recurrences may occur within the first two years after removal, but most are seen five to 10 years after the initial treatment, so follow-up monitoring is vital.

In general, the tumors are harmless but if they grow too large, facial deformities may result. If the tumor begins to grow backward toward the brain, other complications may occur. Because of the nature of the tumor and the tissue from which it arises, there is a chance for malignancy, so getting appropriate medical help and testing is important.

People with recurring nasal polyps should request a biopsy to determine why the lesions continue to return. In most cases, the cause is harmless, but it has always been my opinion that it is better to pay for a test that turns out false than it is to discover down the line that something serious could have been prevented or caught early.

I am printing your letter as a reminder to my readers to seek out medical help and testing for persistent or recurring medical conditions (such as nasal polyps) to ensure that something more sinister is not the cause. Thank you for sharing your experience.

To provide related information, I am sending you copies of my Health Reports "Medical Specialists" and "An Informed Approach to Surgery." Other readers who would like copies should send a self-addressed stamped No. 10 envelope and a check or money order for $2 per report to Newsletter, P.O. Box 167, Wickliffe, OH 44092. Be sure to mention the title(s).

Dr. Peter Gott is a retired physician and the author of the book "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Diet," available at most chain and independent bookstores, and the recently published "Dr. Gott's No Flour, No Sugar Cookbook."