Tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses

Tumors of the nose and paranasal sinuses are very common in their benign form. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are relatively rare (they make up less than 1% of all malignant tumors and about 3% of all head and neck tumors). The incidence of tumors increases with age (maximum in the 6th - 7th decade of age). Men are affected twice as often. The most common benign tumors are inverted papilloma, angiofibroma, fibrous dysplasia and osteoma. Malignant tumors are most often represented by squamous cell carcinoma.

Symptomatology
Most tumors often remain silent. We typically find unilateral involvement that has non-specific symptoms:
 * worsening of nasal patency;
 * repeated bleeding;
 * nasal discharge;
 * recurrent inflammation of the paranasal sinuses.

If the tumor progresses, surrounding structures may be affected: orbital, oral, skull base, facial, CNS

Papilloma
It is an epithelial neoplasia that arises in connection with infection with HPV 6 and 11 (human papillomavirus types 6 and 11). They form pedunculated papillary formations, sometimes multiple. The basis is fibrovascular stroma, which is covered by cylindrical respiratory epithelium or squamous metaplastic. These are mostly benign tumors, but they can recur. Malignant transformation is rare.

Papillomas occur in three forms:
 * 1) inverted form - the most common, lateral wall of the nasal cavity, paranasal cavity
 * 2) exophytic form - nasal septum
 * 3) oncotic form - lateral wall of the nasal cavity, paranasal cavity

Juvenile angiofibroma
I also call it as nasopharyngeal angiofibroma. It occurs in the nasopharynx, more often in young men. It is characterized as a well-circumscribed, polyploidy arranged tumor. The bearing is usually prone to bleeding. From a microscopic point of view, it consists of dilated blood vessels, minimal inflammatory infiltrate and numerous fibroblasts or fibrous stroma. It often regresses during puberty, especially after incomplete surgical excision.

Carcinoma
Different types of cancer can occur quite often in the area of ​​the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses:
 * squamous cell carcinoma;
 * glandular carcinoma;
 * mucoepidermoid carcinoma.

As far as the paranasal sinuses are concerned, cancer most often arises from the sinus maxillaris. These tumors can grow invasively into the orbit and into the cranial cavity. In an advanced stage, an enlarged tumor can deform the face and even penetrate the skin of the face.

Olfactory neuroblastoma
This malignant neuroectodermal tumor (sometimes called estezioneuroblastoma) usually arises in the ceiling of the nasal cavity. It forms at the place of the cribriform plate. Microscopically, neuroblastic differentiation is visible. It occurs most often in individuals of the 4th-5th decade.

Diagnosis
The following is important for diagnosis:
 * anamnesis;
 * rhinoendoscopy;
 * CT, MRI - defines the extent of the tumor and its relationship to the surroundings;
 * angiography - for vascular tumors.

Therapy
Surgical resection is commonly performed for benign tumors. If it is a malignant tumor, then complex oncological treatment is needed. In this case, the scope of treatment is planned according to the TNM classification.

Related Articles

 * Nasal cavity
 * Paranasal sinuses
 * Carcinoma
 * Nasopharyngeal angiofibroma