Treatment of recurrent 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 the following:

• Surgery followed by radiation therapy.
• Radiation therapy followed by surgery.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

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

• Surgery and/or radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

If cancer is in the sphenoid sinus, treatment is the same as for nasopharyngeal cancer and may include radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy. (See the PDQ summary on Nasopharyngeal Cancer Treatment for more information.)

If cancer is in the nasal cavity, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery and/or radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

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

For melanoma and sarcoma, treatment may include the following:

• Surgery.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.

For midline granuloma, treatment is usually radiation therapy.

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

• Surgery and/or radiation therapy.
• Chemotherapy as palliative therapy to relieve symptoms and improve the quality of life.
• A clinical trial of chemotherapy.

Check for U.S. clinical trials from NCI's PDQ Cancer Clinical Trials Registry that are now accepting patients with recurrent paranasal sinus and nasal cavity cancer.

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