ENT Liu Knowledge Base Head & neck tumours · physician reviewed
Sinonasal Cancer · Treatment

What are the treatment options for sinonasal cancer?

Reviewed: 8 November 2026 By: Xiangpeng Liu, MD Topic: Sinonasal Cancer Answer length: short, citable
Quick answer

Treatment is stage- and site-specific, and usually combines endoscopic endonasal skull-base resection for selected tumours, or craniofacial resection with orbital/skull-base reconstruction, postoperative radiotherapy (often IMRT or proton therapy) for most malignant and advanced tumours; concurrent chemoradiotherapy in selected histologies and neck dissection or nodal radiotherapy for node-positive squamous cell carcinoma, SNUC or melanoma. Early-stage disease is generally treated with one modality (surgery or radiotherapy), while locally advanced disease needs combined modality treatment planned by a multidisciplinary team.

In detail

The decision is made by a tumour board including head and neck surgery, radiation oncology, medical oncology, radiology, pathology, dentistry, nutrition and speech/swallow rehabilitation. Functional outcome — speech, swallowing, breathing and appearance — is considered alongside cancer control.

Ask your team explicitly whether the goal is curative, organ-preserving or palliative, and whether a clinical trial is available. NCCN and NCI patient guidelines are a useful checklist for these questions.

  • Endoscopic endonasal skull-base resection for selected tumours, or craniofacial resection with orbital/skull-base reconstruction
  • Postoperative radiotherapy (often IMRT or proton therapy) for most malignant and advanced tumours; concurrent chemoradiotherapy in selected histologies
  • Neck dissection or nodal radiotherapy for node-positive squamous cell carcinoma, SNUC or melanoma
  • Systemic therapy for sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma, small-cell carcinoma, lymphoma and melanoma; immunotherapy for mucosal melanoma and PD-L1-positive squamous tumours
  • Complete excision of inverted papilloma with surveillance for recurrence or malignant transformation
  • Reconstruction, orbital/dural repair, olfactory and dental rehabilitation, and long-term endoscopic surveillance

What this means in practice: this answer is part of the “Treatment” section of the Sinonasal Cancer topic. If you are comparing treatment options, also read how to compare a second opinion and which records to send.

Other common questions about sinonasal cancer

See all 13 questions in this topic →

Sources for this answer

  1. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Head and Neck Cancers National Comprehensive Cancer Network · 2025
  2. Head and Neck Cancers (patient information) US National Cancer Institute · 2025
  3. IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans (tobacco, areca nut, UV radiation, EBV, HPV) International Agency for Research on Cancer / WHO · 2024
  4. NCCN Guidelines for Patients: Head and Neck Cancers National Comprehensive Cancer Network · 2025
  5. Head and Neck Cancers (patient information) US National Cancer Institute · 2025
  6. About Head and Neck Cancer American Cancer Society · 2025

Written and medically reviewed by Xiangpeng Liu, MD

Associate Chief Physician, ENT & Head/Neck Surgery · Chenzhou First People’s Hospital, Chenzhou, Hunan, China

Editorial policy & reviewer credentials · All sources

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Medical disclaimer: This knowledge base is general information for people researching head and neck tumours, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. It does not replace an examination by a qualified physician. Survival figures are population averages, not predictions for an individual. Treatment and cost estimates for China are illustrative only and must be confirmed in writing after your records have been reviewed. If you have a symptom lasting more than two to three weeks, see a doctor promptly.