Nasal and Paranasal Tumors: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Updated: 7 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 17, 2026
Nasal tumors start in the main passageway inside the nose, while paranasal tumors start in the air-filled sinuses around the nose. Some are noncancerous and mainly block airflow. Others are cancerous and can invade tissue or spread. This guide explains the warning signs, what raises risk, how these tumors are diagnosed, and how they are treated.
Quick Answer: What are nasal and paranasal tumors, and how are they treated?
Nasal and paranasal tumors are growths that begin in the nasal cavity or the sinuses around the nose and may be benign or cancerous. Common signs include blocked nasal breathing, headaches, nosebleeds and loss of smell, which overlap with sinus problems. A biopsy determines whether a tumor is cancerous. Surgery is the main treatment, with radiation or chemotherapy for cancers.
What the research says
Certain workplace exposures are strongly linked to sinonasal cancer. In a meta-analysis of 28 studies (11 cohort, 17 case-control), wood dust exposure had a pooled relative risk of 5.91 (95% CI 4.31–8.11) in case-control studies, leather dust 11.89 (95% CI 7.69–18.36), and nickel and chromium compounds 18.0 (95% CI 14.55–22.27) (Binazzi et al., BMC Cancer, 2015) [3].
HPV is found in about one in four sinonasal squamous cell carcinomas. A meta-analysis of 60 studies (1,449 patients) estimated overall HPV prevalence at 25.5% (95% CI 20.7–31.0). The authors note that small sample sizes and varied detection methods limit firm conclusions (Chang Sing Pang et al., Cancers, 2020) [4].
For sinonasal melanoma, endoscopic surgery did as well as or better than open surgery. Across 9 cohort studies (510 patients), overall survival was longer with endoscopic resection (hazard ratio 0.68, 95% CI 0.49–0.95), with no significant difference in disease-free survival. This applies to melanoma specifically and rests on observational studies (Hur et al., Am J Rhinol Allergy, 2019) [5].
Study details retrieved from PubMed.
What Are Nasal and Paranasal Tumors?
Nasal and paranasal tumors are growths that begin in and around the passageway within the nose. They are named for where they start. Nasal tumors begin in the main passageway within the nose, called the nasal cavity. Paranasal tumors begin in air-filled chambers around the nose, called the paranasal sinuses. [1]
Some of these tumors are not cancerous. These noncancerous growths are called benign tumors. They can grow large enough to block the flow of air through the nose. Other nasal and paranasal tumors are cancers, called malignant tumors. They can grow to invade and destroy healthy body tissue, and in time the cells can break away and spread to other parts of the body.
Several types of nasal and paranasal tumors exist. The type of tumor you have helps determine the best treatment for you.
Feature | Nasal Tumors | Paranasal Tumors |
Where they start | Main passageway inside the nose (nasal cavity) | Air-filled chambers around the nose (paranasal sinuses) |
Benign (noncancerous) | Yes. May block airflow through the nose | Yes. May block airflow through the nose |
Malignant (cancerous) | Yes. Can invade tissue and spread | Yes. Can invade tissue and spread |
What guides treatment | The type of tumor you have | The type of tumor you have |
What are the symptoms of nasal and paranasal tumors?
Nasal and paranasal tumors can cause a range of signs and symptoms. These relate to the nose, face, eyes, and nearby areas. [1]
Symptom Area | Possible Signs and Symptoms |
Nose and breathing | Difficulty breathing through the nose, nosebleeds, discharge from the nose |
Head and face | Frequent headaches, facial swelling or pain |
Senses | Loss of the sense of smell, vision problems, watery eyes |
Mouth and neck | A sore on the roof of the mouth, a lump in the neck, difficulty opening the mouth |
No single symptom means you have a nasal or paranasal tumor. These signs overlap with many more common conditions, such as allergies or sinus infections. Only testing can determine what is causing your symptoms.
When should you see a doctor about nasal and paranasal tumors?
Make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. It is a good idea to get any new, persistent, or worsening symptom checked. Symptoms such as ongoing one-sided nosebleeds, lasting nasal blockage, or changes in vision deserve prompt medical attention.
What causes nasal and paranasal tumors?
Nasal and paranasal tumors happen when cells in the nasal cavity or the chambers around the nose develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA holds the instructions that tell a cell what to do. In healthy cells, the DNA gives instructions to grow and multiply at a set rate, and to die at a set time. [1]
In tumor cells, the DNA changes give different instructions. The changes tell the tumor cells to make many more cells quickly. Tumor cells can keep living when healthy cells would die. This causes too many cells, which can form a tumor.
Sometimes the changes in the DNA turn the cells into cancer cells. Cancer cells can invade and destroy healthy body tissue. In time, they can break away and spread to other parts of the body. When cancer spreads, it is called metastatic cancer.
Cell Type | DNA Instructions | Result |
Healthy cells | Grow and multiply at a set rate; die at a set time | Normal tissue |
Tumor cells | Make many more cells quickly; keep living when healthy cells would die | Too many cells; possible tumor |
Cancer cells | Invade and destroy healthy tissue; can break away and spread | Malignant, possibly metastatic cancer |
What are the risk factors for nasal and paranasal tumors?
A risk factor is anything that may increase your chance of developing a condition. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get a nasal or paranasal tumor. It means your risk may be higher. Factors that may increase the risk include: [1]
Risk Factor | Details |
Smoking tobacco | Increases the risk. This includes cigarettes, cigars, and pipes. |
Air pollution | Breathing in polluted air increases the risk of nasal and paranasal tumors. |
Workplace chemicals and irritants | Exposure to wood dust, fumes from glue, rubbing alcohol and formaldehyde, and dust from flour, chromium, and nickel. |
Human papillomavirus (HPV) | HPV is a common virus passed through sexual contact. For most people, it causes no problems and goes away on its own. For others, it causes changes in cells that can lead to many types of cancer. |
Can nasal and paranasal tumors be prevented?
Prevention cannot be guaranteed, but certain steps may reduce your risk of nasal and paranasal tumors: [1]
Stop smoking. If you do not use tobacco, do not start. If you currently use tobacco of any kind, talk with a healthcare professional about strategies to help you quit.
Protect yourself at work. Follow your workplace safety rules for protecting yourself from harmful fumes and irritants in the air, such as wearing a face mask.
Ask about the HPV vaccine. Receiving a vaccination to prevent HPV infection may reduce your risk of HPV-related cancers. Ask your doctor or other healthcare professional whether an HPV vaccine is right for you.
Prevention Step | What It Involves |
Stop smoking | Quit tobacco; ask a healthcare professional about quitting strategies |
Workplace protection | Follow safety rules against harmful fumes and irritants, such as wearing a face mask |
HPV vaccine | Ask whether a vaccination to prevent HPV infection is right for you |
How are nasal and paranasal tumors diagnosed?
Doctors use a combination of examinations, tissue sampling, and imaging to diagnose nasal and paranasal tumors. [2]
Nasal Endoscopy
Nasal endoscopy is a procedure to look inside the nose. It uses a thin tube with a light and camera. The tube is inserted into your nose, and the camera sends pictures to a computer for your healthcare team to look at. These pictures help your team look for any signs of a tumor.
Biopsy
A biopsy is a procedure to collect a sample of tissue for testing. For nasal and paranasal tumors, it involves taking a sample of cells from inside the nose or sinuses. Often a healthcare professional gets the sample during a nasal endoscopy, using special tools passed through the tube. Another type of biopsy uses a thin needle inserted directly into the suspicious area.
The samples are sent to a lab to be tested. A biopsy is what tells doctors if a tumor is benign or malignant.
Imaging Tests
Imaging tests capture pictures of the inside of the body and can show the size and location of a tumor. Tests used may include X-rays and scans such as CT, MRI, and positron emission tomography (PET). Your healthcare team may suggest more tests and procedures based on your condition.
Diagnostic Test | What It Does |
Nasal endoscopy | Thin tube with light and camera looks inside the nose for signs of a tumor |
Biopsy | Sample of cells taken from the nose or sinuses and tested in a lab to see if cells are cancerous |
Imaging tests | X-rays, CT, MRI, or PET scans show the size and location of a tumor |
How are nasal and paranasal tumors treated?
Most nasal and paranasal tumors are treated with surgery to remove the tumor. Treatment depends on where your tumor is located and what types of cells are involved. Your healthcare team will work with you to come up with the plan that is best for your tumor. [2]
Surgery
The goal of surgery is to remove all of the tumor. The surgeon might also remove some of the tissue around the tumor to make sure all the tumor cells are removed. Surgeons access these tumors in two main ways:
Surgical Approach | How It Works |
Incision approach | A cut in the nose or mouth gives surgeons access to the nasal cavity or sinuses. The surgeon removes the tumor and any areas that may be affected, such as nearby bone. |
Endoscopic approach | The surgeon puts the endoscopy tube through the nose. Special tools go through the tube to cut out the tumor. |
These tumors are located near important structures in your head, including your brain, eyes, and the nerves that control vision. Surgeons work to minimize damage to these areas.
Other Treatments for Nasal and Paranasal Cancers
Cancerous tumors might need other treatments to control the cancer cells.
Radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses powerful energy beams to kill cancer cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons, or other sources. A machine directs beams of energy to specific points on the body. Radiation might be used after surgery to kill any cancer cells that remain. If surgery is not an option, treatment might start with radiation therapy and chemotherapy at the same time. Surgery might not be an option if the cancer grows large or spreads.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses strong medicines to kill cancer cells. It may be used after surgery to kill any remaining cells. Sometimes it is done at the same time as radiation therapy because it makes the radiation work better.
Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is a treatment with medicine that helps your body's immune system kill cancer cells. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system, and immunotherapy helps immune cells find and kill them. It might be used when the cancer spreads to other parts of the body and other treatments have not helped.
Treatment | What It Does | When It May Be Used |
Surgery | Removes all of the tumor and sometimes surrounding tissue | Most nasal and paranasal tumors |
Radiation therapy | Energy beams (X-rays, protons, or other sources) kill cancer cells | After surgery, or at the start if surgery is not an option |
Chemotherapy | Strong medicines kill cancer cells | After surgery, or at the same time as radiation |
Immunotherapy | Medicine helps your immune system find and kill cancer cells | When cancer spreads and other treatments have not helped |
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials test new treatments, interventions, and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat, or manage this condition. Your healthcare team can tell you whether a trial may be right for you.
How can people cope with nasal and paranasal tumors?
People facing a serious illness often say they feel worried about the future. With time, you will find ways to cope with your feelings. You may find comfort in these strategies: [2]
Ask questions. Write down questions you have about your tumor and ask them at your next appointment. Also ask your healthcare team for reliable sources of information. Knowing more about your tumor and treatment options may make you more comfortable when you make decisions about your care.
Stay connected to friends and family. They can provide comfort and support. Your diagnosis can be stressful for them too, so try to keep them involved. Think of tasks you might like help with, such as caring for your home if you have to stay in the hospital, or just listening when you want to talk.
Find someone to talk with. Ask your healthcare team to suggest a counselor or medical social worker who has experience helping people facing a life-threatening illness. For support groups, contact the American Cancer Society or ask your healthcare team about local or online groups.
How should you prepare for an appointment about nasal and paranasal tumors?
If you might have a nasal or paranasal tumor, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in diseases that affect the ears, nose, and throat, called an ENT specialist or otolaryngologist. Because appointments can be brief, it is a good idea to be prepared. [2]
Preparation Step | What to Do |
Pre-appointment restrictions | Ask if anything is needed in advance, such as restricting your diet before a test |
Symptom notes | Write down all symptoms, including ones that seem unrelated |
Personal information | Note major stresses or recent life changes |
Medicine list | List all medicines, vitamins, and supplements with doses |
Support person | Bring a family member or friend who may remember details you miss |
Questions | Write down questions, ordered from most to least important |
Questions to Ask
Do I have cancer?
Where is my tumor?
What other tests do I need?
What are my treatment options?
Is there one treatment that is best for my type of tumor?
What are the potential side effects for each treatment?
Should I seek a second opinion? Can you give me names of specialists you recommend?
Am I eligible for clinical trials?
Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What websites do you recommend?
What will determine whether I should plan for a follow-up visit?
What to Expect from Your Doctor
When did you begin experiencing symptoms?
Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?
How severe are your symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?
What is the bottom line on nasal and paranasal tumors?
Nasal and paranasal tumors are growths that begin in the nasal cavity or the air-filled sinuses around the nose. Some are noncancerous and mainly block airflow, while others are cancerous and can invade tissue or spread. The most common warning signs include difficulty breathing through the nose, frequent headaches, nosebleeds, and loss of smell. Most tumors are treated with surgery, and cancerous tumors may also be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy.
If you have any symptoms that worry you, make an appointment with a healthcare professional. A biopsy and imaging can determine whether a growth is benign or cancerous, and your healthcare team can build a treatment plan suited to your specific tumor.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a nasal tumor and a paranasal tumor?
Nasal tumors begin in the main passageway within the nose, called the nasal cavity. Paranasal tumors begin in air-filled chambers around the nose, called the paranasal sinuses. Both can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Are nasal and paranasal tumors always cancerous?
No. Some nasal and paranasal tumors are not cancerous. These noncancerous tumors are called benign tumors, and they can grow to block the flow of air through the nose. Others are cancerous (malignant) and can invade and destroy healthy body tissue or spread to other parts of the body.
What are the most common symptoms of nasal and paranasal tumors?
Signs and symptoms can include difficulty breathing through the nose, frequent headaches, loss of the sense of smell, nosebleeds, discharge from the nose, facial swelling or pain, watery eyes, a sore on the roof of the mouth, vision problems, a lump in the neck, and difficulty opening the mouth.
When should I see a doctor about possible nasal or paranasal tumor symptoms?
Make an appointment with a doctor or other healthcare professional if you have any symptoms that worry you. A healthcare provider can examine you and order tests to find the cause.
What causes nasal and paranasal tumors?
Nasal and paranasal tumors happen when cells in the nasal cavity or chambers around the nose develop changes in their DNA. The changes tell the cells to make many more cells quickly and to keep living when healthy cells would die, causing too many cells. Sometimes the changes turn cells into cancer cells that can invade tissue or spread.
What increases the risk of nasal and paranasal tumors?
Risk factors include smoking tobacco (cigarettes, cigars, pipes), exposure to air pollution, exposure to workplace chemicals and irritants such as wood dust, glue fumes, rubbing alcohol, formaldehyde, and flour, chromium, or nickel dust, and exposure to human papillomavirus (HPV).
Can nasal and paranasal tumors be prevented?
Prevention cannot be guaranteed, but certain steps may reduce your risk: stop smoking or never start, follow workplace safety rules such as wearing a face mask around harmful fumes, and ask a healthcare professional whether an HPV vaccine is right for you.
How are nasal and paranasal tumors diagnosed?
Doctors may use nasal endoscopy (a thin tube with a light and camera to look inside the nose), a biopsy (a sample of cells tested in a lab to see if they are cancerous), and imaging tests such as X-rays, CT, MRI, or PET scans to find the tumor's size and location.
How are nasal and paranasal tumors treated?
Most are treated with surgery to remove the tumor, either through an incision in the nose or mouth or with tools passed through the nose during endoscopy. Cancerous tumors may also be treated with radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, depending on the tumor's location and cell type.
What happens if the tumor is cancerous?
Cancerous tumors might need additional treatments. Radiation therapy may be used after surgery or to start treatment if surgery is not an option. Chemotherapy may follow surgery or be given with radiation. Immunotherapy may be used when the cancer spreads and other treatments have not helped.
How can I prepare for an appointment about a possible nasal or paranasal tumor?
Write down your symptoms, key personal information, and a list of medicines and doses. Bring a family member or friend, and prepare a list of questions ordered by importance. You may be referred to an ENT specialist (otolaryngologist).
Related Resources
On Rinnit
External
Head and Neck Cancer Guidelines — National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
Nasal Cavity and Paranasal Sinus Cancers — American Cancer Society
Support Groups — American Cancer Society
References
Mayo Clinic Staff. Nasal and paranasal tumors - Symptoms and causes. Mayo Clinic. Oct. 8, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nasal-paranasal-tumors/symptoms-causes/syc-20354136
Mayo Clinic Staff. Nasal and paranasal tumors - Diagnosis and treatment. Mayo Clinic. Oct. 7, 2025. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nasal-paranasal-tumors/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354137
Binazzi A, Ferrante P, Marinaccio A. Occupational exposure and sinonasal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Cancer. 2015;15:49. PMID: 25885319. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-015-1042-2
Chang Sing Pang KJW, Mur T, Collins L, Rao SR, Faden DL. Human papillomavirus in sinonasal squamous cell carcinoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancers (Basel). 2020;13(1):45. PMID: 33561073. DOI: 10.3390/cancers13010045
Hur K, Zhang P, Yu A, Kim-Orden N, Kysh L, Wrobel B. Open versus endoscopic approach for sinonasal melanoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Rhinol Allergy. 2019;33(2):162-169. PMID: 30616359. DOI: 10.1177/1945892418822637
Medical disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional about your health.
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