Nasal and paranasal tumors start in and behind your nasal passage. They’re relatively rare, but prolonged exposure to smoke and other substances like textile dust may increase your risk.

These tumors can be malignant (cancerous) or benign (noncancerous). Even benign tumors may cause symptoms if they block your nasal cavity or press on nearby structures such as your eye.

Nasal and paranasal cancer falls into the category of “head and neck cancer,” but they’re often managed differently than other cancers in this category. The most common treatment is surgery, but advanced tumors may also need immunotherapy or targeted drug therapy.

Read on to learn more about nasal and paranasal tumors.

Nasal tumors start in the nasal cavity, which allows air to pass through your nose to your throat.

Paranasal tumors start in the paranasal sinuses, a group of hollow spaces in your skull that have several important functions, such as amplifying your voice, heating and humidifying air, and insulating against temperature changes.

Cancerous tumors in your nasal cavities or sinuses are rare, making up just 3% of head and neck cancers. The most common type of cancerous tumor is squamous cell carcinoma.

Tumors are usually named for the type of cells they start in or the appearance of abnormal cells under a microscope.

Some types of noncancerous nasal or paranasal tumors that can develop include:

Cancerous tumors include:

Nasal and paranasal tumors usually don’t cause symptoms until they grow large or spread to other tissues. Many of their symptoms can mimic those of a sinus infection, making them difficult to detect.

Signs and symptoms can include:

About 80% of nasal or paranasal tumors occur in people over the age of 55. They’re about twice as common in men as women in the United States. White people are more likely to develop nasal tumors than Black people.

Smoking seems to increase your risk of nasal or paranasal cancer, specifically squamous cell carcinoma. Undergoing radiation treatment on the face is another risk factor.

Breathing in substances found in some workplaces, including the following, may also increase your risk:

  • wood dust from carpentry and wood-related industry
  • textile dust
  • leather dust
  • flour
  • nickel and chromium
  • mustard gas
  • radium
  • glues
  • formaldehyde
  • organic solvents

Your doctor will often start your diagnosis by:

  • considering your medical history
  • performing a physical exam
  • asking you about your symptoms

If your doctor suspects you might have a tumor, they’ll refer you to a specialist called an otolaryngologist, or ENT doctor. An ENT might check your nose with a special light or with a tube with a camera that goes inside your nose called an endoscope.

You may receive imaging tests such as:

Your doctor can confirm the diagnosis with a biopsy, in which they take a small sample of the suspected tissue and analyze it in a laboratory.

Doctors often use 5-year relative survival rate to measure the outcome of a specific type of cancer. It represents the number of people with the cancer who are still alive 5 years later compared to people without the cancer.

Here’s a look at the 5-year relative survival rates for nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers in the United States from 2012 to 2018:

Stage5-year relative survival rate
Localized86%
Regional52%
Distant43%
All stages59%

While these numbers can give you a rough idea of what to expect, many other considerations influence your chances of survival. Factors linked to a better outlook include:

  • younger age
  • female sex
  • better ability to carry out daily tasks
  • tumors that haven’t grown into the base of your skull
  • tumors that can be removed with no visible cancer cells around their edges under a microscope
  • not smoking or drinking alcohol

Surgery is the main treatment for early stage cancers. Depending on your stage and subtype, you may also receive:

If you have late-stage cancers, your doctor may not be able to completely remove it with surgery. For these cancers, you might receive:

Nasal and paranasal tumors are rare and often don’t cause symptoms in the early stages. When symptoms do appear, they often mimic those of a sinus infection.

Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy are among the most common treatment options. People with late-stage cancer may also receive newer treatments, such as immunotherapy and targeted drug therapy.