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• Summary
• Start Here
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Prevention and Risk Factors

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• Related Issues
• Specifics

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• Statistics and Research
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• Journal Articles

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Summary

Your paranasal sinuses are small hollow spaces around the nose. They are lined with cells that make mucus, which keeps your nose from drying out. The nasal cavity is the passageway just behind your nose. Air passes through it on the way to your throat as you breathe.

Cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is rare. You are at greater risk if you are:

• Male and over 40 years old
• Exposed to certain workplace chemicals
• Infected with HPV
• A smoker

There may be no symptoms at first, and later symptoms can be like those of infections. Doctors diagnose nasal cancer with imaging tests, lighted tube-like instruments that look inside the nose, and biopsies. Treatment options include surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

NIH: National Cancer Institute

Start Here

• General Information about Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• What Are Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancers? (American Cancer Society)

Diagnosis and Tests

• Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancer Stages (American Cancer Society)
• Panoramic Dental X-Ray (American College of Radiology; Radiological Society of North America) Also in Spanish

Prevention and Risk Factors

• Risk Factors for Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancers (American Cancer Society)

Living With

• Living as a Nasal Cavity or Paranasal Sinus Cancer Survivor (American Cancer Society)

Related Issues

• Oral Complications of Chemotherapy and Head/Neck Radiation (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Specifics

• Esthesioneuroblastoma (Genetic and Rare Diseases Information Center)

Statistics and Research

• Key Statistics about Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancers (American Cancer Society)

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Nose Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)
• ClinicalTrials.gov: Paranasal Sinus Neoplasms (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The value of elective neck irradiation in management of esthesioneuroblastoma: a...
• Article: Photogrammetry is a useful tool to assess the aesthetic outcome after...
• Nasal Cancer -- see more articles

Reference Desk

• Dictionary of Cancer Terms (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Find an Expert

• American Cancer Society
• American Rhinologic Society
• Choosing a Cancer Doctor (American Cancer Society) Also in Spanish
• Find an ENT (American Academy of Otolaryngology--Head and Neck Surgery)
• National Cancer Institute Also in Spanish
• NCI - Designated Cancer Centers (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish
• Organizations that Offer Cancer Support Services (National Cancer Institute) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• After chemotherapy - discharge (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish