Sinus tumors are benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) masses that occur in the nose or sinuses. Common symptoms include nasal congestion, postnasal drip, and a loss of the sense of smell.
While treatment depends on the type, location, and size of the tumor(s), surgery to remove masses is common. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are other common treatments, particularly if the tumor is cancerous.
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What Are Sinus Tumors?
Sinus and nasal cavity tumors are clusters of cells that have grown abnormally fast in and around the nose. They are mainly benign (noncancerous) and incapable of spreading to another part of the body. These tumors may occur on either side of the nose and are usually slow-growing.
Malignant, or cancerous, sinus tumors are rarer. There are multiple types of cancerous tumors of the nose, and their symptoms and severity can vary greatly.
Sinus tumors are often diagnosed late because early symptoms are similar to those found in people diagnosed with acute and chronic sinusitis.
What are the types and stages of sinus tumors?
There are multiple types of sinus tumors, including noncancerous growths and cancerous masses.
Types of noncancerous sinus tumors
The most common noncancerous sinus tumors are:
- Hemangiomas – When blood vessels develop abnormally, they can create these noncancerous tumors in the nose.
- Nasal polyps – Chronic sinusitis, or nasal and sinus inflammation that has lasted longer than three months, is the most common cause of this type of noncancerous tumor.
Types of cancerous sinus tumors
The most common type of nose cancer is squamous cell carcinoma. These tumors start on the surface of the skin and can be caused by excess UV radiation exposure from the sun (or artificially through tanning beds).
Other nasal and paranasal cancers include:
- Adenocarcinoma — This type of cancer originates in gland cells and is often linked to work environments with exposure to hard chemicals.
- Lymphoma — This rare type of cancer develops in the nasal cavity and is also linked to certain harsh work environments.
- Melanoma — This cancer can show up as an abnormal mole on the nose.
- Olfactory neuroblastoma — This cancer originates in the nasal cavity and is known to affect the sense of smell.
A rare type of polyp, known as an inverted papilloma, is typically found on one side of the nose and can potentially become malignant.
Stages of cancerous tumors
Cancerous sinus tumors are categorized into four different stages:
- Stage I — The tumor is in one area of the nose or nasal/paranasal area.
- Stage II — The tumor has spread beyond the nasal cavity.
- Stage III — The tumor has reached the lymph nodes, eye sockets, or sinus bones.
- Stage IV — The tumor has spread to the brain, neck, skull, or distant lymph nodes.
How common are sinus tumors?
Sinus tumors are a relatively rare condition altogether, accounting for less than 1% of all tumor diagnoses. Cancerous sinus tumors account for only 5% of all head and neck cancers diagnosed in the United States.
What causes sinus tumors?
Experts aren’t sure exactly why sinus tumors happen, but they do know how. They occur when cell growth rapidly increases, causing masses to form around the nasal area.
Sinus tumor risk factors
You have a higher chance of being diagnosed with a sinus tumor if you:
- Are over 55.
- Smoke tobacco.
- Work around chemicals, glue, leather, radium, or wood.
Complications of sinus tumors
The primary concern for leaving sinus tumors undiagnosed is tumor metastasis or spreading to other areas of the body. If the tumor is cancerous, then cancer is spreading throughout the body, an indication of a severe condition.
Catching sinus tumors early helps improve treatment outcomes.
How can I prevent sinus tumors?
While there is no way to prevent sinus tumors from forming altogether, you can practice certain lifestyle habits that reduce your risk of the condition.
These include:
- Quitting smoking tobacco.
- Wearing protective equipment when working with harmful substances.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Sinus Tumors?
Symptoms of a sinus tumor may include:
- Blocked sinuses.
- Double vision, blurred vision, or loss of vision.
- Headaches.
- Hearing issues.
- Loose teeth.
- Loss of the sense of smell.
- Nosebleeds.
- Pain in the sinus area, including the cheeks, eyes, and forehead.
- Postnasal drip or pus draining from nose.
- Pain or pressure in the ear.
- Runny nose.
- Swelling around the eyes.
- Voice changes.
When should I see a doctor about my sinus tumor symptoms?
If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, set up an appointment with your primary care physician as soon as you can. Diagnosing sinus tumors early is the best chance to prevent spreading and treat the condition quickly.
How Do You Diagnose Sinus Tumors?
First, your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and overall health history. They may perform a physical exam where your symptoms are occurring.
Depending on your answers and condition, your doctor will most likely order diagnostic tests such as:
Tests to diagnose sinus tumors
- Blood tests — Your doctor may take a blood sample to screen for cancer.
- Biopsy — Your doctor may want a sample of the tumor tissue to test for cancer. This involves a small procedure to remove a small piece of the growth.
- MRI and CT scans — These imaging tests help doctors better visualize inside the body to determine tumor location, size, and shape.
- Nasal endoscopy— Your doctor may want to look inside your nasal passages using a small tube with a camera and light attached to the end. This gives them a close-up view of the tumor texture, size, and location.
These tests will confirm where the sinus tumor is and determine whether it is cancerous. From there, your care team will create a treatment plan.
Sinus tumors prognosis
The prognosis of sinus tumors depends on the type of tumor and stage of cancer. For most people with noncancerous tumors, surgery and treatment take care of the issue completely.
For those with cancerous tumors in the nose, treatment will be highly personalized and tailored to their situation. Still, many people with nasal cancer can live long, healthy lives thanks to a combination of available treatment methods.
How Do You Treat Sinus Tumors?
Treating sinus tumors typically involves a combination of surgical and nonsurgical approaches.
Surgery to treat sinus tumors
Sinus tumors may be approached directly using the endoscopic endonasal approach (EEA). This state-of-the-art, minimally invasive approach — pioneered and refined at UPMC — allows surgeons to access the tumor through the natural corridor of the nose, without making an open incision. Surgeons then remove the tumor through the nose and nasal cavities.
EEA offers the benefits of:
- Faster recovery time.
- No disfigurement.
- No incisions to heal.
If you need complementary treatments, such as radiation, those therapies can begin soon after EEA surgery.
Radiation therapy to treat sinus tumors
Radiation therapy may be used after surgery for a malignant sinus tumor. Radiation can be delivered:
- Externally by directing radiation at the tumor from an outside source.
- Internally by placing radioactive material directly in the body near the cancer.
- Using stereotactic radiosurgery to deliver a concentrated dose of radiation directly to the tumor.
Chemotherapy to treat sinus tumors
Chemotherapy uses drugs to stop the growth of cancer cells.
Depending on the type and stage of the cancer, chemotherapy may be taken by:
- Mouth.
- Injection.
- Direct placement into the brain tumor site.
Frequent follow-up is required for malignant sinus tumors because of the high rate of developing secondary cancers in the head or neck.
