Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer

Nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that affects the nose and paranasal sinuses, the air-filled spaces in the skull around the nose that are lined with cells that produce mucus.

Signs and symptoms of nasal and paranasal tumors can include:

Difficulty breathing through your nose
Loss of sense of smell
Nosebleeds
Nasal discharge
Facial swelling or pain
Watery eyes
Sores or lesions on the roof of the mouth
Vision problems
A lump in your neck
Difficulty opening your mouth

When to see a doctor

Talk to your doctor about any unusual and persistent symptoms in your nose or paranasal sinus area that don't seem right to you.

Risk factors

Factors that may increase the risk of nasal and paranasal tumors include:

Smoking and secondhand smoke inhalation
Breathing in air pollution
Long-term exposure to chemicals and irritants in the air at work, such as wood dust, fumes from glue, rubbing alcohol and formaldehyde, and dust from flour, chromium and nickel
HPV infection

Prevention

You can help to prevent developing by avoiding/stopping habits that have been associated with nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer. In addition, you can take measure to protect yourself at work by following your workplace safety regulations and rules for protecting yourself from harmful fumes and irritants in the air, such as wearing a face mask.

Screening and early detection

At present, there is no proven method for screening/early detection of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer.

Diagnosis of nasal and paranasal cancer

Physical exam and tissue sample
Blood tests
Head and neck MRI
PET/CT scan
Other imaging as clinically indicated

Treatment of nasal and paranasal cancer

Treatment of nasal and paranasal cancer depends on many factors including the stage of the cancer, the tumor location, and the type(s) of cells involved, as well as the patient’s overall health and preferences. Your health care team will work with you to devise a treatment plan that is best for your particular tumor. Treatment for nasal and paranasal cancer usually includes surgery, radiation therapy, a combination of radiation and chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone.