Nasal cavity and sinus cancers are diseases in which cells in and around the nose grow and multiply abnormally, forming a tumor. You may have symptoms such as nasal congestion or headaches. You may discover the tumor during treatment for a sinus infection.

Nasal cavity and sinus cancers are very rare. Many nasal cavity or sinus tumors are not cancerous, but some are. Plus, certain types of tumors that aren’t cancerous to start with can become cancerous if they go untreated.

If you or a loved one have been told that you have nasal cavity or sinus cancer, here is some information to help get you started.

Anatomy of the Nasal Cavity and Paranasal sinuses

The nasal cavity is a large, air-filled space above and behind your nose in the middle of your face. It has two openings called the nostrils, which warm and moisturize the air you breathe in. Your nose and sinuses are covered with a layer of cells that produce mucus and warm the air you breathe. They also affect how your voice sounds when you speak.

Inside the nasal cavity, you have four different types of paranasal sinuses. The paranasal sinuses are a group of hollow, air-filled spaces that surround your nasal cavity. These include:

• Maxillary sinuses, which are located behind the cheeks
• Ethmoid sinuses, which are located between the eyes
• Sphenoid sinuses, which are located behind the ethmoid sinuses, deep in the nasal cavity
• Front sinuses, which are located above the eyes

Types of Nasal Cavity and Sinus Cancers

Cancerous tumors:

• Squamous cell carcinoma- Most common
• Salivary gland cancer
• Sarcoma,
• Esthesioneuroblastoma,
• Lymphoma,
• Sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma
• Malignant melanoma.

Non-cancerous nasal cavity and sinus tumors:

• Squamous papilloma,
• Inverted papilloma
• Adenoma.

Determining the type of nasal cavity or sinus cancer helps doctors predict how the disease will respond to specific treatments. This way we can personalize your treatment.