What is Paranasal Sinuses Cancer? Â
Cancer of the paranasal sinuses occurs mainly in the maxillary and ethmoid sinuses. Although rare in the United States, these cancers are more common in Japan and among the Bantu people of South Africa. Doctors are not sure what causes these cancers, but they are more common among people who regularly inhale certain types of wood and metal dust. Doctors do not think chronic sinusitis causes these cancers.
Because the sinuses provide room for the cancer to grow, most people do not develop symptoms until the cancer is well advanced. Symptoms, including pain, a sensation of nasal obstruction, double vision, nosebleeds, and loosened teeth in the jawbone underneath the affected sinus, result from the pressure of the cancer on nearby structures.
Doctors treat cancer of the sinuses with a combination of surgery and radiation therapy. Recent advances in surgical techniques have allowed doctors to remove the tumors completely, spare uninvolved parts of the face, such as the eye, and reconstruct the area with much better appearance. The earlier the cancer is treated, the better the prognosis.
Paranasal Sinuses Cancer Causes: Â
Although the causes of paranasal sinuses cancer are not known, several occupational groups have been found to have an increased risk of developing these tumors. These groups include leather and textile workers, nickel refiners, woodworkers, and manufacturers of isopropyl alcohol, chromium, and radium. Also, snuff and thorium dioxide (a radiological contrast agent) have been associated with an increased incidence of paranasal sinus cancer. It is unclear whether these factors cause cancer by direct carcinogenesis (cancer production) or by altering the normal nasal epithelial physiology.
Nickel workers primarily develop squamous cell carcinomas, which usually arise in the nasal cavity. Woodworkers, however, usually develop adenocarcinomas that usually arise in the ethmoidal sinuses. The incidence of adenocarinomas in these workers is 1,000 times higher than that of the general population. Tobacco and alcohol use have not been demonstrated conclusively as a causative factor in the development of paranasal sinus tumors. However, viral agents, especially the human papilloma virus (HPV), may also play a causative role.
The Benefit of Paranasal Sinuses Cancer Treatment Surgery:Â Â
New ways of treating paranasal sinuses cancers and nasal cavity with radiation therapy — high energy directed at the cancer to stop it from growing — have replaced deforming surgical procedures. Radiation therapists can now use computer technology to focus on tumor cells while doing a better job of avoiding unaffected, non-cancerous facial structures. These new techniques, known as intensity-modulated radiotherapy or IMRT, allow doctors to get better treatment results with fewer side effects.
The drug cetuximab (Erbitux) has recently been approved for head and neck cancers. It blocks the activity of a substance called epidermal growth factor, which is needed for some cancer cells to grow. “The use of triple drug therapy, including the new drug cetuximab, has allowed us to continue to treat even more advanced cases of head and neck cancers. In the past, patients who were not cured by surgery and did not respond to radiation therapy would have been out of options,” notes Akervall.
Paranasal Sinuses Cancer Symptoms: Â
The most common symptoms of paranasal sinuses cancer include:
- Persistently blocked nose
- Symptoms of recurring sinus infections
- Bleeding from the nose or the para nasal sinuses
- Pain and swelling in the eyes and nose
- Blurring of the vision
- Headaches
- Pain in the cheeks
- Swelling in the roof of the mouth
- Loosening of teeth, bleeding the teeth
- Visual loss
- Pain or pressure in one of the ears
- Trouble opening the mouth
- Lymph nodes in the neck getting larger
Many of these symptoms are most often caused by benign conditions like allergies or infections. When the symptoms are caused by cancer, they don’t get better over time. People with these symptoms should see a doctor. If a cancer is present, early detection greatly improves the chance that treatment will be successful.
Paranasal Sinuses Cancer Diagnosis:
Doctors use many tests to diagnose cancer and find out if it has metastasized (spread). Some tests may also determine which treatments may be the most effective. For most types of cancer, a biopsy is the only way to make a definitive diagnosis of cancer. If a biopsy is not possible, the doctor may suggest other tests that will help make a diagnosis. Imaging tests may be used to find out whether the cancer has metastasized. Your doctor may consider these factors when choosing a diagnostic test:
- Age and medical condition
- The type of cancer suspected
- Severity of symptoms
- Previous test results
To make the diagnosis, a complete medical history and physical examination are necessary. Signs of nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancer are often very similar to symptoms of chronic or allergic sinusitis. The physical examination is important, and doctors may perform any of several tests to reach a diagnosis. There are no specific blood or urine tests that can be performed to help make an early diagnosis of this type of cancer.
Paranasal Sinuses Cancer Treatment Surgery India: Â
Paranasal sinuses cancers can start in different types of cells within the sinuses. The type of treatment given will depend on a number of things, including the position and stage of the cancer, the type of cancer, the grade and your general health. The following treatments may be used alone or in combination with one another. Your doctor will discuss with you the most appropriate treatment for your situation.
- Surgery–
Surgery may be used, depending on the position of the cancer and whether or not there has been any spread into the surrounding area of lymph nodes. Surgery can sometimes be quite extensive, and in some cases skin grafts or flaps are needed.
If necessary, modern prostheses (false facial parts) can be used to give a good appearance after the surgery. It can be difficult to prepare for and cope with this kind of surgery. However, help is available from specialist health professionals and support organisations listed below .
- Radiotherapy–
Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays to destroy the cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to normal tissue.
Sometimes radiotherapy may be given on its own to treat a paranasal sinus cancer (radical radiotherapy). More commonly it is given after surgery to reduce the chance of the cancer coming back (adjuvant therapy).
Depending on the type of radiotherapy treatment that you receive, you may have some side effects. These may include feeling sick (nausea) and vomiting , eye irritations (conjunctivitis), dry eyes and headaches. If side effects occur, it is important to tell your doctor, so they can prescribe appropriate medicines. The side effects generally start to reduce a couple of weeks after the treatment has ended.
- Chemotherapy–
This is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells.
Paranasal sinus cancers are occasionally treated with chemotherapy, either before other treatments or at the same time as radiotherapy treatment (chemoradiation).
Paranasal Sinuses Cancer Surgery:
The structure of the paranasal sinuses is very complex. There are many important nerves and blood vessels in and around this area. The nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are also very near to organs such as your eyes, brain and mouth, which makes planning and doing the surgery difficult.
Your surgeon needs to consider how your face will look and how well it will all work after your surgery. The main aim is to remove the tumour along with the smallest possible amount of surrounding healthy tissue and bone. Your doctor will also try to prevent major changes to your vital functions such as breathing, chewing and swallowing. But in some cases the surgery will cause changes.
Paranasal Sinuses Cancer Surgery Presentation: Â
The best way to prevent cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses is to avoid the known risk factors. Fortunately, working conditions and safety measures have improved and awareness of the risk factors has increased. If you are working with the substances listed in the section of this document on risk factors, it is important for you to find out if you are being protected from harmful exposure.
Cigarette smoking is another avoidable risk factor for cancers of the nasal cavity and sinuses. Many people with cancer of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses have no known risk factors, so there is currently no way to prevent all of these cancers.
Cost of Paranasal Sinuses Cancer Treatment Surgery in India
In India the cost of the paranasal sinuses cancer treatment surgery is very low in comparison with other countries. Low cost and quality is a major reason that international patients visit India. Many international patients look for a low cost option as they don’t have medical insurance and the cost of the treatment in their own country is very high. So, they search for countries where they can get the quality treatment at low cost. The table below shows the cost difference in India and other countries.
How Paranasal Sinus Cancer is Treated in India?
Paranasal sinus cancer is treated at the best hospitals of India. Various hospitals in India have the latest technical equipments and expert surgeons for treatment of Paranasal sinus cancer. Treatment in Indiais done byleading surgeons who are well–trained qualified specialist with many years of an excellent reputation. There is a large network of private hospitals and nursing posts spread across India that provides accessible privileges and broad range of in-patient and out-patient health care services.
Paranasal sinus cancer is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the paranasal sinuses—the four hollow pockets of bone surrounding the nasal cavity. Paranasal sinus cancers can start in different types of cells within the sinuses. How Paranasal sinus cancer is treated will depend on a number of things, including the position and stage of the cancer, the type of cancer, the grade and general health. The following treatments may be used alone or in combination with one another.
Surgery| may be used in treating Paranasal sinus cancer, depending on the position of the cancer and whether or not there has been any spread into the surrounding area of lymph nodes. Surgery can sometimes be quite extensive, and in some cases skin grafts or flaps are needed.  If necessary, modern prostheses (false facial parts) can be used to give a good appearance after the surgery, if necessary. Radiotherapy| may be used to treat paranasal sinus cancers. Radiotherapy treats cancer by using high-energy rays to destroy the cancer cells, while doing as little harm as possible to normal tissue.  This is the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. Although chemotherapy| is helpful for many cancers, it is not very effective for Paranasal sinus cancer and is only used occasionally. Paranasal sinus cancer istreated at hospitals with comprehensive surgical, medical and emergency services supported by state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment facilities and innovative surgery techniques. Indian hospitals are proud of offering access to world class doctors, nurses and other health professionals dedicated to patients welfare. Medical tourism in India aims to care for individuals and provide healing treatment and touching people’s life’s through compassionate and expert care.
