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Nasal tumors are rare, with fewer than 50 cases diagnosed in the US each year, but more common in the UK, South Africa, and Japan. Treatment and prognosis depend on the type and spread of tumors. Risk factors include smoking, viruses, and exposure to certain chemicals. Treatment options vary based on the cancer’s grade and stage.
Nasal tumors can occur in the nostrils, inner nasal cavity, or sinuses. Malignant or cancerous tumors are rare. In fact, fewer than 50 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. However, an average of 500 cases are diagnosed in the UK each year, and South Africa and Japan appear to suffer from nasal cancer even more frequently. While nasal cancer is treatable with a favorable outlook in most cases, the specific course of treatment and prognosis depends on the type of tumors present, the type of cells in which they develop, and how far the cancer has spread.
It should also be noted that many types of nasal tumors are either malignant or non-cancerous. For example, overgrowth of tissue in the nostrils is known as polyps, while overgrowth in small blood vessels produces so-called angiofibromas and hemangiomas. A nasal papilloma, on the other hand, is more like a wart. While these types of tumors aren’t cancerous, they can progress to squamous cell cancer over time. Also, inverted polyps and papillomas are associated with the human papilloma virus.
The most common form of cancerous nasal tumors are squamous cell carcinomas, which start in the flat, fish scale-like cells found in the lining of mucous membranes. The second most common type is adenocarcinomas, which start in the glandular cells. Like papillomas, adenocarcinomas are also associated with a virus, in this case Epstein-Barr. Other types of nasal tumors that indicate cancer include sarcomas, melanomas, lymphomas, plasmacytomas, and very rarely neuroendocrine carcinomas. These types of cancerous nasal tumors develop in soft tissue cells, skin pigment cells, lymph nodes, plasma cells, and neuroendocrine cells, respectively.
Possible risk factors that can lead to the development of nasal cancer include smoking, a history of hereditary retinoblastoma, infection with certain viruses, multiple nasal polyps, and chronic exposure to certain chemicals and textile dust. In fact, nasal cancer has been linked to environmental and occupational toxins, such as formaldehyde, nickel, chromium, and dust generated from wood, leather, and asbestos processing. Also, nasal cancer tends to occur more frequently in women than men.
If nasal cancer is suspected, diagnostic testing typically begins with an examination of the nasal cavity and sinus cavities using a nasoendoscope and panendoscopy. Ultrasound can also be used. Suspicious sites can be aspirated with a needle or biopsied for further laboratory analysis.
Treatment options vary based on the grade and stage of the cancer, as well as taking into account the patient’s age and pre-existing medical conditions. Generally, most nasal cancers are addressed surgically, with the highest success rate applying to early stage cancers. Some cancers, however, require more aggressive treatment, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
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