Contemporary management of sinonasal cancer

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Sinonasal cancer is a relatively uncommon entity encountered by head and neck oncologists, rhinologists, and skull base surgeons. Recent innovations in surgical and nonsurgical therapeutic modalities raise the question of whether there has been any measurable improvement for treatment outcomes. METHODS: A retrospective review of data from recent studies that focus on surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, or combinations thereof, was conducted. RESULTS: Surgery continues to be the preferred treatment and provides the best results, albeit with an inherent bias based on patient selection. For advanced disease (T4 lesions), the survival rate remains only modest. Complications of treatment, including both surgical and radiation therapy, have been reduced. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to improve the efficacy of treatment for this disease. Recommendations for the future direction of therapeutic investigations are outlined.