Differential diagnosis and treatment options in paranasal sinus cancers

Larry L. Myers, Lance E. Oxford

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Paranasal sinus malignancies are challenging to treat. Most patients present with advanced lesions, often with intracranial or intraorbital extension, and have a poor overall prognosis. Given the low incidence and diverse pathologies of paranasal sinus cancers, it is extremely difficult to perform prospective, randomized clinical trials to compare different treatment approaches. Improving the prognosis of these cancers continues to be a difficult task, even in light of advances in surgical techniques, radiation delivery techniques, and new chemotherapeutic agents. Craniofacial resection techniques developed in the past few decades have cured many patients with skull base invasion, who would have been considered unresectable in the past. Furthermore, improvements in radiation therapy can allow more accurate administration to the desired region, with decreased damage to surrounding structures such as the orbit and brain. Aggressive and oncologically sound surgical resection combined with radiation therapy remains the treatment of choice for most patients. Finally, advances in the diagnosis and staging by use of molecular or DNA markers of tumor behavior may allow for more directed therapy.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)167-186
Number of pages20
JournalSurgical Oncology Clinics of North America
Volume13
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2004

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Oncology

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