Department of Otolaryngology Academic Faculty

Tumor Types and Their Origins

Nasal and anterior skull base tumors may arise from any of the tissue constituting the nose [1], sinuses (ethmoid sinuses [2], maxillary sinuses [3] ) and adjacent structures (skull base 4).

A brief list of tissues and their respective tumors is included below:

Tissue	Benign Tumors	Malignant Tumors
Mucous Membrane	Inverting Papilloma	Squamous Cell Carcinoma Melenoma
Mucous Membrane Glands	Pleomorphic Adenoma	Adenocarcinoma Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma
Olfactory and Neural Tissues	Neurilemmomas Neurofibromas	Esthesioneurblastomas
Extranodal Lymphatic Tissues		Lymphoma
Cartilage	Chondroma	Chondrosarcoma
Bone	Osteoma	Osteogenic Sarcoma
Muscle	Leiomyoma	Leiomyosarcoma
Blood Vessels	Hemangiomas Angiofibromas	Hemangiopericytomas
Notochord		Chordoma

 

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Signs and Symptoms of Tumors

Signs and symptoms of nasal and anterior skull base tumors reflect the location and type of tumor. Many of these tumors present with nasal airway obstruction and nose bleed (epistaxis). A few tumors occur in one gender and age group, rather than in the general population. Angiofibroma, a vascular tumor arising in posterior nose, is an example of a benign tumor seen in adolescent males who most often complain of nose bleeds and nasal airway obstruction. 

In contrast, malignant neoplasms of sinuses arise in both genders, and may have a variable presentation. In addition to potential nasal complaints, sinus tumors can invade the adjacent eye and brain. Symptoms might include impaired or double vision, or in very advanced disease, altered consciousness.

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