How are nasal cavity and paranasal sinus cancers staged?
The prognosis (outlook) for people with cancers of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses depends on many factors. These include the type of cancer, the size and location of the cancer, whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body, and the general health of the patient. Cancers of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses first grow or spread locally (to nearby areas) and then spread to the lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are bean-sized glands scattered throughout the head and neck (and the rest of the body) which fight infection and remove cell waste. Staging is a process that tells the doctor how widespread a cancer may be. It will show whether the cancer has spread and how far. The treatment and outlook for nasal cavity or paranasal sinus cancers depend, to a large extent, on their stage. For early cancer, surgery may be all that is needed. For more advanced cancer, other treatments like chemotherapy or radiation therapy may be required. Be sure to ask your doctor to explain the s
