Patient-centered treatment goals

We often explain to patients that we do not operate CT scans or MRI`s but patients with symptomatic disease. But, how clear are we in discussing the aims of our treatment with our patients? How often is our surgical goal to remove the polyps or open up the sinus, which we may judge to be useful for the patient`s disease without directly improving the primary symptom of the patient, and does the patient understand our goal? Are we always sure that our aim is the same as the wishes of our patients? Are we sure that we explain our CRS patient that he/she has an inflammatory disease that most likely will need long term medical treatment also after surgery?