Treatment of Stage IV Paranasal Sinus and Nasal Cavity Cancer

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

Treatment of stage IV 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:

• High-dose radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• A clinical trial of fractionated radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy before surgery or radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy after surgery or other cancer treatment.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

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

• Radiation therapy before or after surgery.
• Chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy before surgery or radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy after surgery or other cancer treatment.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

If cancer is in the sphenoid sinus, treatment is the same as for nasopharyngeal cancer, usually 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 and radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of combination chemotherapy before surgery or radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of combination chemotherapy after surgery or other cancer treatment.

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

For melanomas and sarcomas, treatment may include:

• Surgery.
• Radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy.

For midline granulomas, treatment is usually radiation therapy.

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

• External radiation therapy and/or internal radiation therapy with or without surgery.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy before surgery or radiation therapy.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy after surgery or other cancer treatment.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

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.