Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer
Head and Neck Program
Stage III Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer
Treatment depends on the type of cancer and where the cancer is found.
If cancer is in the maxillary sinus, treatment may be one of the following:
Surgery to remove the cancer. Radiation therapy is given before or after
surgery.
A clinical trial of a special type of radiation therapy given before or
after surgery.
If cancer is in the ethmoid sinus, treatment may be one of the following:
Surgery followed by radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before surgery or radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy after surgery or after a combination of treatments.
If cancer is in the sphenoid sinus, treatment is the same as for nasopharyngeal cancer and will probably be radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy. (Refer to the PDQ summary on Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment for more information.)
If cancer is in the nasal cavity, treatment may be one of the following:
Surgery.
Radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy.
Surgery plus radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before surgery or radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy after surgery or after a combination of treatments.
If the cancer is an inverting papilloma, treatment will probably be surgery.
If the cancer comes back after surgery, patients may receive more surgery or radiation therapy.
If the cancer is a melanoma or sarcoma, treatment will probably be surgery.
Radiation therapy may be given if the cancer cannot be removed with surgery.
For certain types of sarcoma, a combination of surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy may
be given.
If the cancer is a midline granuloma, treatment will probably be radiation therapy.
If the cancer is in the nose (nasal vestibule), treatment may be one of the
following:
External-beam and/or internal radiation therapy.
Surgery if the cancer comes back following treatment.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy before surgery or radiation therapy.
A clinical trial of chemotherapy after surgery or after a combination of treatments.