Management of Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancers

The treatment for cancer arising in the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is either radiation therapy alone or a combination of surgery combined with adjuvant radiation therapy.  The chance of cure is inversely related to the extent of the primary tumor (whether the cancer arises in the nasal cavity or sinuses).  The chance of spread to distant sites of the body and/or lymph nodes in the neck is relatively low.  The cure rates after radiation therapy alone or a combination of irradiation and surgery are similar.  However, by combining surgery with irradiation, it is possible to use a lower radiation dose, thus lowering the risk of complications such as damage to the optic nerves and brain.