Malignant tumours of the nasal cavity and the paranasal sinuses in a Melanesian population

Malignant tumours of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses are usually associated with poor prognosis. From 1986 to 1995, 50 such tumours were managed in Papua New Guinea. Twenty-nine of these arose in the maxillary sinus, 15 in the nasal cavity, four in the ethmoid sinus and two in the frontal sinus. Males were more frequently affected than females. No specific carcinogenic factor was apparent in these patients who were uniformly distributed all over the country. Advanced local disease with multiple symptoms and signs was common during presentation. Systemic and neck node metastases were infrequent. Histopathologically, squamous cell carcinoma was the commonest type of tumour. Satisfactory results were obtained by combination therapy consisting of surgery, irradiation, and systemic chemotherapeutics agents. Better health consciousness and health care delivery system are essential for early diagnosis, regular posttreatment follow-up and improved survival of these patients.