Nasal and sinus cancer
Nasal and sinus cancer, also termed nasopharyngeal cancer, is rare, affecting the nasal cavity and the sinuses. That differs from nose and throat cancer.
Symptoms
Common signs of nasal and sinus cancer are:
- A blocked nose that stays permanent (usually only affects one side)
- A reduced sense of smell
- Nosebleeds
- Bloody mucus running from your nose
- Mucus depleting into the back of your nose and throat
After a stage, symptoms can include:
- Pain or numbness in the face, especially in the upper cheek that stays longer
- Partial loss of vision or double vision
- Pain or pressure in 1 ear
- Swollen glands in the neck
- A bulging eye
- A persistent lump
- A watering eye
Test and treatments
Tests may help in diagnosing nasal and sinus cancer:
- Nasoendoscopy – where a flexible tube with a camera gets inserted into your nose to examine
- A biopsy – Examining a small sample of tissue
- Needle aspiration – Taking fluid and cells from a lymph node using a needle to check if cancer has spread
If you’ve happened to get diagnosed with nasal and sinus cancer, you may also have an MRI scan, CT scan, PET scan, or ultrasound scan to assist with the stage and grade of the tumor.
The treatment depends on several factors, including the location, stage, and spread.
Treatment may include:
- Surgery to terminate a tumor – open surgery or keyhole surgery through the nose
- Radiotherapy
- Chemotherapy
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 04 October 2022