The tumors that begin to develop in the nasal cavity or paranasal sinuses are called nasal and paranasal tumors. These growths can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). While the primary treatment for these tumors is surgery, doctors may recommend radiation therapy or chemotherapy for people with malignant tumors. Check some examples of tumors below:
- Nasal polyps and hemangiomas (benign tumors)
- Neuroblastoma (malignant)
- Adenocarcinoma (malignant)
- Squamous cell carcinoma (malignant)
- Sarcoma (malignant)
- Adenoid cystic carcinoma (malignant)
In general, nasal tumors are rare, and they account for about 3% to 5% of all head and neck cancers in the United States.
What is The Difference between a Nasal Tumor and a Paranasal Tumor?
The main difference between these tumors is the location of the abnormal growth. For example:
- Nasal tumors – These growths appear in the nasal cavity (behind the nose).
- Paranasal sinus tumors – In such cases, the abnormal growth appears in the air-filled chambers located around the nose.
Symptoms
Usually, people with nasal and paranasal tumors experience the following symptoms. Examples include:
- Chronic (long-term) nasal congestion
- Sinus blockage
- Anosmia (loss of sense of smell)
- Headaches
- Nosebleeds
- Postnasal drip
- Watery eyes
- Pus draining from the nose
- Pain around the nose, eyes, ears, cheeks, or forehead
- Voice changes
- Growths on the nose, face, neck, or roof of the mouth
- Hearing problems
- Difficulty opening the mouth
- Eye problems (including blurred or double vision, bulging eyes, and others)
- Chronic ear infections
If you experience any of the previous symptoms, immediately contact your healthcare professional because they can indicate nasal or paranasal tumors.
Causes
These tumors often appear due to DNA changes that occur in the cells of the nose lining. DNA holds instructions that tell cells when to grow, multiply, and die. However, a mutated DNA gives the cells different instructions that make them grow and multiply without control. When abnormal cells become too much, they form a mass called a tumor. If this tumor is left untreated, it can become large and spread to other parts of the body. In such cases, the condition is called metastatic cancer. Healthcare providers do not fully understand why these DNA changes occur.
Risk Factors
Doctors have identified some factors that may increase your risk of developing nasal and paranasal tumors. Examples include:
- Age – While these tumors may appear at any age, they mostly occur in people over 55 years old.
- Race – According to the American Cancer Society, these tumors mostly affect white people.
- Sex – Males are twice as likely to develop nasal and paranasal tumors compared to females.
- Tobacco smoking (including secondary smoke)
- Wood or leather dust
- Vapors from some chemicals and substances (including glue, radium, solvents, and formaldehyde)
What Are The Long-term Effects of Nasal and Paranasal Tumors?
People who develop these tumors may also experience some complications, especially if they leave them untreated. Check some of them below:
- Dental, hearing, and breathing problems
- Facial changes
- Vision problems
- Speech and swallowing difficulties
- Treatment complications (for example, blood clots, scarring, bleeding, infections, pain, mouth sores, nausea, eating problems, and others)
- Nerve damage
- Metastasis
The previous list does not contain all possible nasal and paranasal tumor complications. However, you can consult with your healthcare professional about measures to reduce the risk or even prevent the previous complications.
How to Prevent Nasal and Paranasal Tumors?
In general, it is not possible to prevent these tumors. However, you can take some steps to reduce the risk. For example, to avoid inhaling harmful fumes, quit smoking (if you have problems with smoking cessation, discuss it with your doctor), wear appropriate protective equipment, and others. Talk with a doctor for more details.
Diagnosis
Like many other health conditions, the diagnosis begins with a physical examination and questions about the symptoms and medical history. Therefore, doctors will perform the following tests and procedures to confirm or rule out nasal and paranasal cancer. For example:
- Nasal endoscopy – This is a procedure that involves a small and flexible tube with a lighted camera on the end that allows your doctor to examine the nasal cavity, passages, and sinuses.
- Blood tests – These tests are done to check for signs of cancer.
- Imaging tests – Usually, the following tests are used to get detailed images of different structures and organs in the body. Doctors often perform X-rays, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or CT (computerized tomography) scans.
- Biopsy – During this test, doctors will take a small sample of the tumor for testing. They will look at this sample under a microscope to check for cancerous cells.
Stages of Nasal and Paranasal Cancer
Once you are diagnosed with nasal or paranasal cancer, doctors may perform additional imaging tests to determine the extent (stage) of the cancer. It helps make the best treatment plan for you. Check below the stages of this type of cancer:
- Stage I – This is the first stage of the cancer, and it indicates the tumor is localized. It means the abnormal growth has not spread to other tissues.
- Stage II – The second stage of the cancer often indicates the tumor has spread to other parts of the nasal cavity or paranasal sinus.
- Stage III – In such cases, the tumor has spread to nearby tissues (such as lymph nodes).
- Stage IV – This is the end-stage cancer in which the cancerous cells can spread far from the initial tumor (such as the brain, bones, neck, skull, lungs, and other parts of the body).
Treatment
The treatment for people with nasal or paranasal tumors is often different because it depends on several factors. These include the severity of the cancer, existing health problems, age, and preferences. Check below the most common treatments recommended by doctors:
Surgery
This treatment is used to remove the tumor as much as possible. However, if the tumor has spread to other tissues (such as lymph nodes), doctors will remove them as well. Sometimes, this treatment may include oral surgeons, neurosurgeons, and ENTs (ear, nose, and throat specialists).
Radiation Therapy
This therapy uses a powerful energy beam to destroy cancerous cells. The main sources of this energy are X-rays and protons, but it may come from other sources too. This treatment can be used to shrink a large tumor before surgery, or to destroy cancerous cells that may remain after surgery. When surgery is not an option, radiation therapy can be prescribed along with chemotherapy to improve the effectiveness of the cancer treatment.
Chemotherapy
This option involves strong medications that destroy cancerous cells throughout the body. While it is mostly given to the patients intravenously (IV), a pill form is also available. Healthcare professionals often prescribe chemotherapy when surgery and radiation therapy are not options.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are nasal and paranasal tumors curable?
Yes, especially if they are detected in the early stages. However, in most cases, these tumors are identified in the advanced stages, which reduces the chances of curing them.
When should I see my healthcare provider?
It is recommended to see a doctor if you experience the following symptoms for more than 2 weeks. For example, frequent nosebleeds, lack of sense of smell, or nasal congestion.
What is the life expectancy of someone with paranasal sinus cancer?
In general, the 5-year survival rate for people with this type of cancer is about 85% with treatment. However, if the condition is left untreated, the life expectancy significantly decreases. If you have additional questions, ask your healthcare provider.
