Treatment of Recurrent Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer

For information about the treatments listed below, see the Treatment Option Overview section.

Treatment of recurrent paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer depends on where cancer is found in the paranasal sinuses and nasal cavity.

If cancer is in the maxillary sinus, treatment may include:

• Surgery followed by radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy followed by surgery.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

If cancer is in the ethmoid sinus, treatment may include:

• Surgery and/or radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

If cancer is in the sphenoid sinus, treatment is the same as for nasopharyngeal cancer and may include radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy. For more information, see Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment.

If cancer is in the nasal cavity, treatment may include:

• Surgery and/or radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

For inverting papillomas, treatment is usually surgery with or without radiation therapy.

For melanomas and sarcomas, treatment may include:

• Surgery.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.

For midline granulomas, treatment is usually radiation therapy.

If cancer is in the nasal vestibule, treatment may include:

• Surgery and/or radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

Use our clinical trial search to find NCI-supported cancer clinical trials that are accepting patients. You can search for trials based on the type of cancer, the age of the patient, and where the trials are being done. General information about clinical trials is also available.