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What is Nasal Tumor & How is it Treated?

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What is Nasal Tumor?

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Nasal Tumors are basically benign growths found in the nose or the sinuses. In majority of the cases, Nasal Tumors are benign but in some cases they are malignant as well, although such instances are quite rare. The majority of Nasal Tumors occur in the maxillary sinus and some of these tumors are found in the nasal cavities. In some cases Nasal Tumors are also found in the ethmoid sinus.

Nasal Tumors are asymptomatic, but in case if an individual does experience some symptoms which are quite prolonged then it may indicate a much serious condition like a malignancy. These symptoms may be persistent congestion of the nose, forehead pain, cheek pain, pain in the nose or around the eyes or ears, postnasal drip, frequent episodes of nosebleeds. Since most of Nasal Tumors are benign, it is best treated with removal of the tumor. In case if the nasal tumor is malignant, then further treatment with radiation and chemotherapy is warranted along with removal of the Nasal Tumor.

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What is Nasal Tumor & How is it Treated?
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What are the Risk Factors for Nasal Tumor?

Coming to the risk factors for Nasal Tumors, men are more at risk for developing Nasal Tumors than women. The usual age of onset of Nasal Tumors is in the fifth and sixth decade of life. Smoking is yet another risk factor for development of Nasal Tumors. Individuals working in the leather or textile industry are also at risk for developing Nasal Tumors due to the dust coming from the materials of leather and textiles.

Inhaling vapors of chemicals like formaldehyde, nickel, and chromium also increase the risk for developing Nasal Tumors. Even though the exact cause of Nasal Tumors is still now known, it normally occurs because of a gene defect which controls cell growth resulting in abnormal growth of cells causing tumors to develop.

What are the Symptoms of Nasal Tumor?

Benign Nasal Tumors are usually asymptomatic, but in some cases, especially where the tumors become cancerous the following symptoms may be observed:

  • Persistent blocked nose.
  • Frequent nosebleeds.
  • Blood stained mucous draining from the nose.
  • Anosmia.
  • Pain or numbness in the face.
  • Swelling of glands in the neck.
  • Vision disturbance.
  • A lump on the face or nose.

How is Nasal Tumor Diagnosed?

For a diagnosis of Nasal Tumor, a detailed history of the patient is taken first through which it is determined as to when the symptoms started and what has been the intensity of the symptoms. Next, a physical examination of the head and neck is conducted in case if Nasal Tumor is suspected. A fiberoptic scope may also be used to explore the nasal and sinus cavities to see whether there are any tumors present there or not. In case if a tumor is found then further testing in the form of MRI or CT scans may be done to further confirm the diagnosis of Nasal Tumor. An endoscopy may be done to take out a sample of the tissue of the tumor mass to send for biopsy to check whether the tumor is benign or malignant. Based on the results of the tests, a diagnosis is made of Nasal Tumor.

How is Nasal Tumor Treated?

For benign Nasal Tumor, simply removing or excision of the tumor is good enough for treating Nasal Tumor. In case if the Nasal Tumor is malignant, then the treatment becomes more complex and depends on various factors like how far the nasal tumor has spread and the overall health of the patient. The first step towards treating a malignant Nasal Tumor is by removal of the tumor.

The nasal tumor can be removed in both benign and malignant cases by open surgery, which is done by pinpointing the location and then making incisions and removing the tumor. Another more novel way of removing the tumor is by way of endoscopic microsurgery, which is a minimally invasive technique and is done through the nose.

Once the nasal tumor has been removed successfully, then the patient has to undergo radiation therapy for a few sessions to kill any malignant cells that may be present even after surgery. The patient will then undergo chemotherapy, which will kill the cancer cells and treat Nasal Tumor. More often than not in malignant Nasal Tumors, a multidisciplinary approach towards treatment is done.

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What is the Prognosis for Nasal Tumor?

The overall prognosis of Nasal Tumor depends on the type of tumor that is present. For benign Nasal Tumor, the prognosis is very good after removal of the tumor. For malignant Nasal Tumor, the prognosis is somewhat guarded and an individual can live up to around five years post diagnosis, but this depends on the location of the tumor and how far the tumor has spread. In case if the diagnosis is delayed or the cancer has reached an advanced stage then the prognosis is quite poor for an individual suffering from malignant Nasal Tumor.

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Team PainAssist
Team PainAssist
Written, Edited or Reviewed By: Team PainAssist, Pain Assist Inc. This article does not provide medical advice. See disclaimer
Last Modified On:May 12, 2022

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