Nasal cancer (tumor)

Ear Nose | Otorhinolaryngology | Nasal cancer (tumor) (Disease)


Description

Nasal and sinus tumors are benign or cancerous tumors that occur in the nose or sinuses. Most of these types of tumors (60 to 70 percent) occur in the maxillary sinus, while 20 to 30 percent are in the nasal cavity and 10 to 15 percent are in the ethmoid sinuses.

Causes and Risk factors

Although the cause of sinus and nasal cavities is unknown, they occur when the genes that control cell growth become defective.

Cancer in the sphenoid or frontal sinuses is extremely rare, accounting for only 5 percent of such cancers. Men are more likely to get sinus cancer than women. The most common age for diagnosis of the condition is fifties and sixties.

Smoking and tobacco smoke is a major risk factor for nose and sinus cancer, as well as other cancers of the respiratory track. Exposure to dusts from wood, leather or textiles, as well as inhaling vapors from glue, formaldehyde, solvents, nickel, chromium, rubbing alcohol and radium appear to increase the risk of such cancers. Avoiding exposure to these risk factors can reduce the risk of sinus or nasal cancer, especially avoiding tobacco smoke.

Diagnosis and Treatment

A biopsy will determine the cell type. A CT and MRI scan are done to define the extent of the disease.

Treatment can be very difficult but includes: chemotherapy, radiation therapy and/or surgery...